BIRTH OF THE BLUES (1941)

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 LOUEY TO SHOW HER HOW TO DO SCAT SINGING. MEMPHIS AND JEFF BOTH FALL IN LOVE WITH BETTY LOU. STARRING BING CROSBY, MARY MARTIN, BRIAN DONLEVY, CAROLYN LEE, LOUIS ARMSTRONG.