Paul Justman Director, Producer Andre Braugher Narrator Richard "Pistol" Allen Self Jack Ashford Self Bob Babbitt Self Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin Self Eddie "Bongo" Brown Self Bootsy Collins Self Johnny Griffith Self Ben Harper Self Joe Hunter Self James Jamerson Self Uriel Jones Self Montell Jordan Self Chaka Khan Self Gerald Levert Self Joe Messina Self Meshell Ndegeocello Self Joan Osborne Self Rudy Robinson Self Tom Scott Self Walter Dallas Writer Ntozake Shange Writer Alan Slutsky Writer, Producer Paul Elliot Executive Producer David Scott Producer Sandford Passman Producer Mary Petryshyn Co-Producer, Line Producer Douglas Milsome Cinematographer Lon Stratton Cinematographer Anne Erikson Film Editing Tony Adler First Assistant Director Rolfe D. Bergsman Production Design Amy Carroll Art Director Scarlett Jade Costume Design