Lady Sings the Blues

Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday, beginning with her traumatic youth. The story depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with Louis McKay, her boyfriend and manager. Casting a shadow over even Holiday's brightest moments is the vocalist's severe drug addiction, which threatens to end both her career and her life.

• 
  Sidney J. Furie

• 
  Diana Ross
  Billie Holiday
• 
  Billy Dee Williams
  Louis McKay
• 
  Richard Pryor
  Piano Man
• 
  James T. Callahan
  Reg Hanley
• 
  Paul Hampton
  Harry
• 
  Sid Melton
  Jerry
• 
  Virginia Capers
  Mama Holiday
• 
  Yvonne Fair
  Yvonne
• 
  Isabel Sanford
  The Madame
• 
  Tracee Lyles
  The Prostitute
• 
  Ned Glass
  The Agent
• 
  Milton Selzer
  The Doctor
• 
  Norman Bartold
  The Detective #1
• 
  Clay Tanner
  The Detective #2
• 
  Jester Hairston
  The Butler
• 
  Bert Kramer
  The Policeman
• 
  Paul Micale
  The Maitre d'
• 
  Michele Aller
  The Singer
• 
  Byron Kane
  The Announcer
• 
  Barbara Minkus
  Radio Actress