Barney Bigard

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.

Glenn Miller fue uno de los más famosos músicos de jazz de la "era del swing". En 1925 empezó a tocar el trombón en una pequeña banda de provincias y, después de una gira por pueblos y ciudades, se instaló en Nueva York. Hasta allí llegó su novia para casarse. La boda fue una histórica sesión musical dirigida por el gran Louis Armstrong. A partir de entonces la carrera de Glenn Miller estuvo llena de éxitos.

Duke Ellington and Orchestra perform 'C Jam Blues'.

A rising nineteen-year-old singer by the name of Billie Holiday made her screen debut in this musical landmark, which features Duke Ellington and his orchestra performing his symphonic jazz piece “A Rhapsody of Negro Life” set to scenes of everyday African American life.

Duke Ellington plays hot jazz in a fictional story that finds him down on his luck; he tries in vain to dissuade his friend, dancer Fredi Washington, from working with heart trouble even though it means work for his band. Sure enough, she collapses on stage...