Based on the true story of Ruben Santiago Jr. and his relationship with his guardian Rachel "Nanny" Crosby (Emmy® winner Merkerson, TVs Law & Order, Jersey Girl), Lackawanna Blues is set in 1950's Lackawanna, a city in Upstate New York. After the separation of his parents, young Ruben moves into a rooming house run by Nanny Crosby. Nanny's house is full of people struggling for a fresh start in life, ranging from former convicts to recovering drug addicts, and she opens both her doors and her heart to them as they strive to make themselves better people. Ruben finds a loving home amidst the colorful eccentrics, but as America changes over the course of the '50s and '60s, so does the neighborhood where Nanny and her tenants live. Fueled by rhythm and blues, this HBO Original Movie features a stellar supporting cast, including Oscar® winner Louis Gossett Jr., Oscar® nominees Rosie Perez and Terrence Howard, Emmy® winner Jimmy Smits and Golden Globe® nominee Mos Def.