In the early 1960s, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry.

Robert Townsend
as Duck

Michael Wright
as Eddie

Leon
as J.T.

Harry Lennix
as Dresser

Tico Wells
as Choirboy

Diahann Carroll
as Eleanor Potter

Harold Nicholas
as Sarge

John Canada Terrell
as Michael 'Flash' Turner

Chuck Patterson
as Jimmy Potter

Hawthorne James
as Big Red