Birth of the Blues

Birth of the Blues

Jeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He puts together a band, the Basin Street Hot-Shots, which includes a cornet player, Memphis. They struggle to get their jazz music accepted by the cafe society of the city. Betty Lou joins their band as a singer and gets Louie to show her how to do scat singing. Memphis and Jeff both fall in love with Betty Lou.

Cast for Birth of the Blues...

Bing Crosby
Jeff Lambert
Mary Martin
Betty Lou Cobb
Carolyn Lee
Aunt Phoebe Cobb
Minor Watson
Henri Lambert
Harry Rosenthal
Piano Player
Donald Kerr
Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
Ronnie Cosby
Jeff as a Boy
Ted Lewis
Self (archive footage)
Duke Ellington
Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong
Self (archive footage)
Tommy Dorsey
Self (archive footage)
Jimmy Dorsey
Self (archive footage)
Benny Goodman
Self (archive footage)
Paul Whiteman
Self (archive footage)
Roscoe Ates
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Charles Lane
Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Mantan Moreland
Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)