Steve Allen as Benny Goodman

Donna Reed as Alice Hammond

Berta Gersten as Mama Goodman

Barry Truex as Benny Goodman (age 16)

Herbert Anderson as John Hammond Jr.

Robert F. Simon as Papa Dave Goodman

Hy Averback as Willard Alexander - Benny's manager

Sammy Davis Sr. as Fletcher Henderson

Dick Winslow as Gil Rodin

Shepard Menken as Harry Goodman

Jack Kruschen as 'Murph' Podolsky - riverboat band Mgr.

Wilton Graff as John Hammond Sr.

Fred Essler as Prof Schoepp

David Kasday as Benny Goodman (age 10 )

John Erman as Harry Goodman (age 16 )

George Givot as

Lionel Hampton as

Gene Krupa as

Teddy Wilson as

Ben Pollack as

Kid Ory as

Urbie Green as

Buck Clayton as

Stan Getz as

Harry James as

Martha Tilton as

Ziggy Elman as