Birth of the Blues

Jeff Lambert reveals exceptional talent on the clarinet from a young age. Although his father funds formal classical lessons, Jeff gravitates toward the improvisational world of a Bourbon Street jazz group. These early days plant the seeds of a life devoted to jazz rather than classical performance.

Jeff grows into a young man whose love for jazz intensifies, and he forms his own group. This bold move angers his aging father, who chafes at the shift away from classical training. The family tension hints at the path Jeff will follow in the music world.

Now in his late twenties, Jeff and his group struggle to land gigs at the finer New Orleans cabarets. They are reduced to street corners and one-night stands in dingy nightclubs. The lack of opportunities pushes them to seek new openings in the city.

Jeff searches throughout the city for a hot trumpet voice to boost the band. He discovers Memphis in a local jail and promises to bail him out. Jeff's bail succeeds, and Memphis agrees to join the band.

Jeff notices Betty Lou being overcharged by a horse-cab driver and intervenes. He invites Betty Lou and Aunt Phoebe to stay with him, bringing new faces into his life. The arrangement foreshadows the personal ties that will influence the band's future.

Memphis wins Betty Lou's affections and secures her a job at Blackie's club. Betty Lou agrees to work there only if Blackie hires Jeff's band, tying the ensemble to the club's fortunes. The setup integrates crime-run club life with the music scene.

With Memphis's trumpet, Jeff's band becomes the most popular jazz ensemble on Bourbon Street. The crowds flock to the club, and the group gains a new level of visibility and demand. The partnership marks a turning point in their careers.

The club owner Blackie is revealed as a racketeer who uses his venue as a front for criminal interests. Jeff and the band resolve to leave Blackie's club, but Blackie threatens to kill them one by one if they try to quit. The menacing conflict sets up a dangerous crossroads for the group.

Jeff confronts Blackie and a violent saloon brawl erupts. During the fight, Louey is knocked unconscious by a bottle, and Jeff and the others carry him home to his wife, Ruby. The band’s loyalty to Louey and to each other becomes a defining moment in their camaraderie.

A few weeks after the riot, the band pays a moving tribute to Louey, performed in his honor as Ruby watches with concern. Louey slowly regains consciousness, and the band relies on their bonded resilience to press forward.

Several weeks pass, and Louey recovers enough to rejoin the music. The band continues performing, their chemistry strengthened by adversity. The lineup remains intact as they push toward steadier gigs.

In a final turn of fate, Blackie is accidentally killed by one of his own henchmen. With Blackie out of the picture, Jeff, Betty Lou, and the band move on to better things, leaving the criminal underworld behind for a brighter career in music.