Allen Reisner

Director

Nat 'King' Cole

W.C. Handy

Eartha Kitt

Gogo Germaine

Cab Calloway

Blade

Ella Fitzgerald

Singer

Mahalia Jackson

Bessie May

Ruby Dee

Elizabeth

Juano Hernandez

Rev. Charles Handy

Barney Bigard

Musician

Billy Preston

Will Handy as a boy

Pearl Bailey

Aunt Hagar

Bill Baldwin

Attorney Mawson

Walt Davis

Usher

George 'Red' Callender

Musician

Milas G. Clark Jr.

Boy

Lee Young

Musician

C. Bakaleinikoff

New York Symphony Conductor

Teddy Buckner

Musician

George Washington

Musician

Robert Smith

Writer