Studs Terkel and Dave Garroway intertwine jazz music with conversation. The voices of Doris Day, Peggy Lee, Charlie Ventura, Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, and Nellie Lutcher are heard between conversations ranging from Garroway's start in radio while in the United States Navy. Garroway discusses the changing technology and the thrill of it. Also includes the progress that has been made in race relations and the death of Duke Ellington.

Maxene Andrews reminisces over Andrews Sisters songs with Studs Terkel. She acknowledges the heavy influence the Boswell Sisters played in the creation of their image. She relays musical stories surrounding songs in Abbott and Costello such as "Bugle Boy" from their movie "Buck Privates". How they found the song "Mir Bist Du Schon" and Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin helped with the lyrics. How song pluggers brought The Andrews Sisters "Tip-Pi-Tin". How "Apple Blossom Time" helped an injured soldier at Oak Knoll Hospital upon his return to the states.

Discussing jazz music with jazz vocalist and cabaret performer Spider Saloff. Spider Saloff discusses George and Ira Gershwin. Includes the songs "Fascinating Rhythm", "Ask Me Again", "Slap That Bass", "Lonely Boy", "Summertime", and "Vodka" written by George Gershwin and sung by Spider Saloff. Includes the song "I Want To Be Happy" written by Vincent Youmans and sung by Spider Saloff. Includes Spider Saloff singing her song "Alone In The Dark".

Studs interviews Phyl Garland about her book "Sound of Soul." They discuss various musicians that she mentions in her book and their influence on black music. Garland explains the music of young black artists and how commercialization of music gave blacks an opportunity that they would not have had otherwise. Garland talks about how Fannie Lou Hamer used music to express her message in the Civil Rights Movement and as a women's rights activist. Studs and Garland discuss various black female artists and their music.