Story :In a story fueled by rhythm and blues, a young boy's life is shaped by love and the stories of a cast of characters in the boarding house where he lives in 1960s Lackawanna, New York.
Cast
S. Epatha MerkersonRachel 'Nanny' Crosby
Marcus Carl FranklinRuben Santiago Jr.
Yasiin BeyThe Bandleader
Carmen EjogoAlean
Louis Gossett Jr.Ol'lem Taylor
Macy GrayPauline
Terrence HowardBill Crosby
Ernie HudsonDick Barrymore
Rosie PerezBertha
Liev SchreiberUlysses Ford
Jimmy SmitsRuben Santiago Sr.
Patricia WettigLaura's Mother
Jeffrey WrightMr. Paul
Adina PorterRicky
Bill Simms Jr.Self
Ruben Santiago-HudsonFreddie Cobbs
Charlayne WoodardBill's Woman
Omar BenjaminRuben, Jr. (Toddler)
Julie BenzLaura
Robert BradleyOtis McClanahan
Michael Kenneth WilliamsJimmy
Saul WilliamsLonnie (War Veteran)
Delroy LindoMr. Lucious
Thomas Jefferson ByrdNumb Finger Pete
Kathleen ChalfantMrs. Carmichael
Byanca GodwinBill's Woman
Hill HarperRuben Jr. (Adult)
Barry Shabaka HenleyShakey Winfield
Lou MyersOl' Po Carl
Julanne Chidi HillJimmy Lee's Woman
Henry SimmonsJesse
Arista PembertonFish Fry Guest
Ron KellumFish Fry Guest
Muhammad ParksFish Fry Guest
Ken RobertsonFish Fry Guest
Michelle RobinsonFish Fry Guest
Paula BrownFish Fry Guest
Neisha Folkes-LeMelleDancer at Maxie's
Stevie Ray AnthonyDancer at Maxie's
Carmen M. ChavezDancer at Maxie's
Ryan FrancoisDancer at Maxie's
Aakomon JonesDancer at Maxie's
Autum PerryDancer at Maxie's
Greg PolandDancer at Maxie's
Indira TaylorDancer at Maxie's
Eugene LeeNanny's Birthday Party Guest
Ryan Michelle BatheNanny's Birthday Party Guest
Tracey BucknerNanny's Birthday Party Guest
Roxanne MayweatherNanny's Birthday Party Guest
Amad JacksonAlean's Boyfriend
Bob TyrusFish Sandwich Man
J.B. WilliamsGambler
Lily SantiagoLaura's Daughter
Trey Santiago-HudsonLaura's Son
DelandisPerformer
Jana ThompsonHotel Receptionist in Toronto (uncredited)