St Louis Blues (1958 film)

St. Louis Blues is a 1958 American film broadly based on the life of W. C. Handy. It starred jazz and blues greats Nat "King" Cole, Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, and Barney Bigard, as well as gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and actress Ruby Dee. The film's soundtrack used over ten of Handy's songs including the title song.

Contents

• Ella fitzgerald cameo in st louis blues 1958
• Cast
• References

In conjunction with the film, Cole recorded an album of W. C. Handy compositions, arranged by Nelson Riddle, and Fitzgerald incorporated "St. Louis Blues" into her concert repertoire.

Cast

Nat King Cole as W.C. Handy

Eartha Kitt as Gogo Germaine

Cab Calloway as Blade

Ella Fitzgerald as Singer

Mahalia Jackson as Bessie May

Ruby Dee as Elizabeth

Juano Hernandez as Rev. Charles Handy

Teddy Buckner as Musician

Barney Bigard as Musician

George Callender as Musician

Lee Young as Musician

George Washington as Musician

Billy Preston as Will Handy as a boy

Pearl Bailey as Aunt Hagar

Jester Hairston as Choir Master/Singer