Nat King Cole
— W.C. Handy
Eartha Kitt
— Gogo Germaine
Cab Calloway
— Blade
Ella Fitzgerald
— Singer
Mahalia Jackson
— Bessie May
Ruby Dee
— Elizabeth
Juano Hernández
— Rev. Charles Handy
Teddy Buckner
— Musician
Barney Bigard
— Musician
George 'Red' Callender
— Musician
Lee Young
— Musician
George Washington
— Musician
Billy Preston
— Will Handy as a Boy
Pearl Bailey
— Aunt Hagar