Birth of the Blues

Plot Summary

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.

Top Cast

Bing Crosby Jeff Lambert

Mary Martin Betty Lou Cobb

Brian Donlevy Memphis

Carolyn Lee Aunt Phoebe Cobb

Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson Louey