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

Bing Crosby

as Jeff Lambert

Mary Martin

as Betty Lou Cobb

Brian Donlevy

as Memphis

Carolyn Lee

as Aunt Phoebe Cobb

Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson

as Louey

J. Carrol Naish

as Blackie

Warren Hymer

as Limpy

Horace McMahon

as Wolf

Ruby Elzy

as Ruby

Jack Teagarden

as Pepper

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