A rising nineteen-year-old singer by the name of Billie Holiday made her screen debut in this musical landmark, which features Duke Ellington and his orchestra performing his symphonic jazz piece “A Rhapsody of Negro Life” set to scenes of everyday African American life.
Fred Waller
Adolph Zukor
Milton Hockey
Fred Rath
William O. Steiner
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Self
Billie Holiday
Self - Blues Singer (uncredited)
Earl 'Snake Hips' Tucker
Jilting lover / specialty dancer (uncredited)
Barney Bigard
Self - Clarinet (uncredited)
Joe 'Tricky Sam' Nanton
Self - Trombone (uncredited)
Symphony in black--a rhapsody of Negro life
Clip • YouTube
Paramount Pictures