St. Louis Blues (1958)
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.
Director: Allen Reisner
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Nat King Cole as W.C. Handy |
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Eartha Kitt as Gogo Germaine |
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Cab Calloway as Blade |
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Ella Fitzgerald as Singer |
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Mahalia Jackson as Bessie May |
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Ruby Dee as Elizabeth |
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Juano Hernández as Rev. Charles Handy |
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Teddy Buckner as Musician |
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Barney Bigard as Musician |
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George 'Red' Callender as Musician |
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Lee Young as Musician |
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George Washington as Musician |
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Billy Preston as Will Handy as a Boy |
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Pearl Bailey as Aunt Hagar |
| Costume & Make-Up | Nellie Manley | Hair Designer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Edith Head | Costume Design |
| Art | Robert R. Benton | Set Decoration |
| Sound | Nelson Riddle | Music |
| Editing | Eda Warren | Editor |
| Art | Sam Comer | Set Decoration |
| Sound | W.C. Handy | Music |
| Crew | Haskell B. Boggs | Cinematography |
| Costume & Make-Up | Wally Westmore | Makeup Designer |
| Production | Robert Smith | Producer |
| Art | Roland Anderson | Art Direction |
| Art | Hal Pereira | Art Direction |
| Directing | Allen Reisner | Director |
| Writing | Spencer Williams | Lyricist |
| Writing | Mack David | Lyricist |
| Writing | Martha Koenig | Lyricist |
| Writing | Mercedes Gilbert | Lyricist |
| Sound | W.C. Handy | Songs |
| Writing | Ted Sherdeman | Writer |
| Writing | Robert Smith | Writer |
