Lackawanna Blues

Play it. Sing it. Shout it. Feel it.

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.

Drama Music

S. Epatha Merkerson

(Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby)

Marcus Carl Franklin

(Ruben Santiago Jr.)

Yasiin Bey

(The Bandleader)

Carmen Ejogo

(Alean)

Louis Gossett Jr.

(Ol'lem Taylor)

Macy Gray

(Pauline)

Terrence Howard

(Bill Crosby)

Ernie Hudson

(Dick Barrymore)

Rosie Perez

(Bertha)

Liev Schreiber

(Ulysses Ford)

Jimmy Smits

(Ruben Santiago Sr.)

Patricia Wettig

(Laura's Mother)

Jeffrey Wright

(Mr. Paul)

Adina Porter

(Ricky)

Bill Simms Jr.

(Self)

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

(Freddie Cobbs)

Charlayne Woodard

(Bill's Woman)

Omar Benjamin

(Ruben, Jr. (Toddler))

Julie Benz

(Laura)

Robert Bradley

(Otis McClanahan)

Michael Kenneth Williams

(Jimmy)

Saul Williams

(Lonnie (War Veteran))

Delroy Lindo

(Mr. Lucious)

Thomas Jefferson Byrd

(Numb Finger Pete)

Kathleen Chalfant

(Mrs. Carmichael)

Byanca Godwin

(Bill's Woman)

Hill Harper

(Ruben Jr. (Adult))

Barry Shabaka Henley

(Shakey Winfield)

Lou Myers

(Ol' Po Carl)

Julanne Chidi Hill

(Jimmy Lee's Woman)

Henry Simmons

(Jesse)

Arista Pemberton

(Fish Fry Guest)

Ron Kellum

(Fish Fry Guest)

Muhammad Parks

(Fish Fry Guest)

Ken Robertson

(Fish Fry Guest)

Michelle Robinson

(Fish Fry Guest)

Paula Brown

(Fish Fry Guest)

Neisha Folkes-LeMelle

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Stevie Ray Anthony

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Carmen M. Chavez

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Ryan Francois

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Aakomon Jones

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Autum Perry

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Greg Poland

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Indira Taylor

(Dancer at Maxie's)

Eugene Lee

(Nanny's Birthday Party Guest)

Ryan Michelle Bathe

(Nanny's Birthday Party Guest)

Tracey Buckner

(Nanny's Birthday Party Guest)

Roxanne Mayweather

(Nanny's Birthday Party Guest)

Amad Jackson

(Alean's Boyfriend)

Bob Tyrus

(Fish Sandwich Man)

J.B. Williams

(Gambler)

Lily Santiago

(Laura's Daughter)

Trey Santiago-Hudson

(Laura's Son)

Delandis

(Performer)

Jana Thompson

(Hotel Receptionist in Toronto (uncredited))

Josef Cannon

(Headwaiter (uncredited))

Keith Tilque

(Fish Fry Guest (uncredited))

Blaise Brooks

(Party Guest (uncredited))