St. Louis Blues

The glitter and glory story of the man whose rhythm and blues beat became all America's heartbeat!

Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church, but he can't stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will's music played by a symphony orchestra.

• Release date
• April 7, 1958
• Runtime
• 105 min
• Genres
• Drama, History
• Director
• Allen Reisner

Cast

Nat King Cole W.C. Handy Eartha Kitt Gogo Germaine Cab Calloway Blade Ella Fitzgerald Singer Mahalia Jackson Bessie May Ruby Dee Elizabeth Juano Hernández Rev. Charles Handy

T

Teddy Buckner Musician