Directed by
| Lisa Cortes | ... | (as Lisa Cortés) |
Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification
| Little Richard | ... | Self - Architect of Rock & Roll (archive footage) | |
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Ralph Harper | ... | Self - Macon Neighbor |
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Newt Collier | ... | Self - Cousin |
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Charles 'Bud' Penniman | ... | Self - Little Richard's Dad (archive footage) |
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Muriel Jackson | ... | Self - Head of the Middle Georgia Archives |
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Zandria Robinson | ... | Self - Scholar |
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Billy Vera | ... | Self - Specialty Records Historian |
| Billy Porter | ... | Self - Musician | |
| Sister Rosetta Tharpe | ... | Self - Singer, Mother of Rock and Roll (archive footage) | |
| Nona Hendryx | ... | Self - Labelle | |
| Valerie June | ... | Self - Musician | |
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Stanley Stewart | ... | Self - Cousin |
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Ma Rainey | ... | Self - Singer (archive footage) |
| Fredara Hadley | ... | Self - Ethnomusicologist | |
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Jason King | ... | Self - Scholar |
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Billy Wright | ... | Self - Singer (archive footage) |
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Libby Anthony | ... | Self - Entertainment Agent |
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Esquerita | ... | Self - Musician (archive footage) |
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Charles Connor | ... | Self - Drummer |
| Lloyd Price | ... | Self -Singer / Songwriter (archive footage) | |
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Arthur Rupe | ... | Self - Specialty Records (archive footage) (as Art Rupe) |
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Robert 'Bumps' Blackwell | ... | Self - Producer (archive footage) |
| Cosimo Matassa | ... | Self - Owner, J&M Recording Studio (archive footage) | |
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Red Tyler | ... | Self - Saxophone (archive footage) |
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Earl Palmer | ... | Self - Drums (archive footage) |
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Dorothy La Bostrie | ... | Self - Songwriter (archive footage) (as Dorothy Labostrie) |
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Cory Henry | ... | Self - Musician |
| Chuck Berry | ... | Self - Musician (archive footage) | |
| Alan Freed | ... | Self - Disc Jockey (archive footage) | |
| John Waters | ... | Self - Filmmaker | |
| Elvis Presley | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
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Sir Lady Java | ... | Self - LGBTQ+ Activist & Entertainer |
| Pat Boone | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
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Tavia Nyong'o | ... | Self - Scholar |
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Ike Turner | ... | Self (archive footage) |
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Brother Joe May | ... | Self - Gospel Artist (archive footage) |
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The Clara Ward Gospel Singers | ... | Themselves - Gospel Artists (archive footage) (as Clara Ward Singers) |
| Clara Ward | ... | Self - Gospel Artist (archive footage) | |
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Marion Williams | ... | Self - Gospel Artist (archive footage) |
| Ruth Brown | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
| Fats Domino | ... | Self - Artist (archive footage) | |
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La Vern Baker | ... | Self (archive footage) |
| Bo Diddley | ... | Self - Musician (archive footage) | |
| Tom Jones | ... | Self - Singer (as Sir Tom Jones) | |
| Jerry Lee Lewis | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
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Lee Angel | ... | Self - Performer |
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DeWitt Williams | ... | Self - Oakwood College Classmate |
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Keith Winslow | ... | Self - Road Manager |
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Ernestine Penniman | ... | Self - Wife (archive footage) (as Ernestine Harvin Penniman) |
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Sounds Incorporated | ... | Themselves (archive footage) |
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Tony Newman | ... | Self - Drummer for Sounds Incorporated |
| Paul McCartney | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
| John Lennon | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
| Billy Preston | ... | Self - Singer / Songwriter (archive footage) | |
| Mick Jagger | ... | Self - The Rolling Stones | |
| Janis Joplin | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
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John P. Kee | ... | Self - Musician |
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Ashon Crawley | ... | Self - Scholar |
| John Branca | ... | Self - Music Industry Attorney | |
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Ramon Hervey | ... | Self - Manager |
| David Bowie | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
| Nile Rodgers | ... | Self - Record Producer | |
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Charles Glenn | ... | Self - Little Richard Band Bass Guitarist |
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Morris Roberts | ... | Self - Booking Agent |
| Keith Richards | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Kathleen Turner | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
| Bad Brains | ... | Themselves (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| The Beatles | ... | Themselves (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Bill Boggs | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Bon Jovi | ... | Themselves (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Boy George | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| David Brenner | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| James Brown | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Cher | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Dick Clark | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Céline Dion | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Mike Douglas | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Tom Ewell | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Fishbone | ... | Themselves (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Norwood Fisher | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Lady Gaga | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Merv Griffin | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Arsenio Hall | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| George Harrison | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Jimi Hendrix | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Michael Jackson | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Rick James | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| David Johansen | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Elton John | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Brian Jones | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Louis Jordan | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Led Zeppelin | ... | Themselves (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Annie Lennox | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| David Letterman | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Liberace | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Living Colour | ... | Themselves (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Lizzo | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Madonna | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Bruno Mars | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Freddie Mercury | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Angelo Moore | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Donny Osmond | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Marie Osmond | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Prince | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | ... | Themselves (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Paul Reubens | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Lionel Richie | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Joan Rivers | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| RuPaul | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Tom Snyder | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Bruce Springsteen | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Ringo Starr | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Rod Stewart | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Harry Styles | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Tina Turner | ... | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
Produced by
| Caryn Capotosto | ... | producer (p.g.a.) |
| Jackie Clary | ... | archive producer |
| Lisa Cortes | ... | producer (as Lisa Cortés) (p.g.a.) |
| Sophia Dilley | ... | consulting producer |
| Amy Entelis | ... | executive producer |
| Jason Fine | ... | executive producer |
| Robert Friedman | ... | producer |
| Alexandra Hannibal | ... | supervising producer |
| Liz Yale Marsh | ... | producer |
| Jeff Menné | ... | line producer |
| Jarobi Moorhead | ... | co-producer |
| Marah Olsen | ... | archive producer |
| Mike Powers | ... | executive producer |
| Dee Rees | ... | executive producer |
| Catherine Rierson | ... | archive producer |
| Anita May Rosenstein | ... | executive producer |
| Bethany Schattner | ... | archive producer |
| Bridget Schelzi | ... | associate producer |
| Courtney Sexton | ... | executive producer |
| Sig Sigworth | ... | consulting producer |
| Kathleen Simmonds | ... | line producer |
| Veda Smith | ... | contributing producer |
| Nicole Tsien | ... | coordinating producer: for CNN Films |
| Gus Wenner | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Tamar-kali | ... | (as Tamar-kali Brown) (original score) |
Cinematography by
| Keith Walker | ... | (cinematography) |
| Graham Willoughby | ... | (cinematography) |
| Ben Frewin | ... | (cinematography) (uncredited) |
Editing by
| Jake Hostetter | ||
| Nyneve Laura Minnear | ... | lead editor (as Nyneve Minnear) |
Makeup Department
| Jessie D'Angelo | ... | hair and make up artist |
| Ashley DiSarro | ... | hair and make up artist |
| Aria Ferraro | ... | hair and make up artist |
| Meeza Generoso | ... | hair and make up artist |
| Jeff Jones | ... | hair and make up artist |
| Nichole McAuley | ... | hair and make up artist |
Production Management
| Whitney Berry | ... | head of production: for CNN Films |
| John Cooke | ... | head of post production & delivery: for CNN Films |
| Cristina DiLegge | ... | executive in charge of production |
Sound Department
| Andre Artis | ... | sound recordist |
| Tristan Baylis | ... | supervising dialogue editor |
| Julie Hu | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Max Johnson | ... | sound recordist |
| Robert La Rosa | ... | sound recordist (as Rober La Rosa) |
| Andres E. Marthe Gonzalez | ... | lead sound designer / supervising sound editor |
| Gene Martin | ... | sound recordist |
| Tom Paul | ... | re-recording mixer / sound designer |
| Alex Quitugua | ... | sound recordist |
| Craig Rhee | ... | sound recordist |
| Nicholas Schenck | ... | dialogue editor |
| Gary Tomaro | ... | sound recordist |
| Taylor Tosh | ... | sound recordist |
| Timothy Wright | ... | sound recordist |
| Gibran Yusuf | ... | sound designer |
Visual Effects by
| Fons Schiedon | ... | graphic design and animation |
| Jason Strougo | ... | visual effects supervisor |
Camera and Electrical Department
| George Alvarez | ... | assistant camera |
| Brandon Barron | ... | key grip |
| Franz Brun | ... | steadicam operator |
| Dillon Deaton | ... | assistant camera |
| Jeff Dolen | ... | additional cinematographer |
| Nick Ellison | ... | key grip |
| Cory Feezer | ... | key grip |
| Brandon Froehlich | ... | assistant camera |
| Thelonious Frumkin | ... | electrician |
| Chris Gorman | ... | gaffer |
| Rachel Gwozdz | ... | assistant camera |
| Shana Hagan | ... | additional cinematographer |
| Alexa Harris | ... | gaffer |
| Matt Hedt | ... | gaffer |
| Donavan Lambert | ... | key grip |
| Vivian Lau | ... | assistant camera |
| Mat MacIntyre | ... | gaffer |
| Isaac McCord | ... | gaffer |
| Andrew Mojica | ... | assistant camera |
| Emma Penrose | ... | key grip |
| Chloe Ramos | ... | assistant camera |
| Brett Ray | ... | key grip |
| Chad Rispalje | ... | assistant camera |
| John M. Roche | ... | additional cinematographer (as John Roche) |
| Nick Sogard | ... | gaffer |
| Nathan Trucks | ... | assistant camera |
| Derek Voy | ... | gaffer |
| Chris Winget | ... | driver/swing |
| Miguel Zamora | ... | assistant camera |
Editorial Department
| Aaron J. Brander | ... | on-line editor (as Aaron Brander) |
| Amanda Copeland | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Trinity Goderstad | ... | post-production assistant |
| Sky Helwig | ... | dcp mastering & quality assurance |
| Verne Mattson | ... | colorist |
| Abigail Morrison | ... | assistant editor |
| Rich Ruben | ... | lead assistant editor/graphics (as Rich Rubin) |
| Jeremy Trott | ... | assistant editor |
| Sarah Williams | ... | post production supervisor |
| Megan Winiarski | ... | assistant editor |
Music Department
| Bobbie Lee Crow III | ... | music copyist (as Bobbie Lee Crow) |
| Francesca Dardani | ... | musician: violin |
| Jason DiMatteo | ... | musician: contrabass/electric bass |
| Chris Eddleton | ... | musician: drums |
| Jonathan Finegold | ... | music supervisor / soundtrack produced by |
| Andy Fischer | ... | soundtrack produced by |
| Jorge Huelga Garcìa | ... | musician: viola |
| Jack Graubard | ... | music coordinator |
| Hunter Hanson | ... | assistant to composer/additional arrangements / music editor |
| Cory Henry | ... | performer: Dreamscape performance of "Tutti Frutti" |
| Valerie June | ... | performer: Dreamscape performance of "Strange Things Happening Every Day" |
| John P. Kee | ... | performer: Dreamscape performance of "Standing In Need Of Prayer" |
| Kirin McElwain | ... | musician: cello |
| Sig Sigworth | ... | soundtrack exectutive producer |
| Angie Teo | ... | recording & mixing engineer |
| Alex Weill | ... | musician: violin |
| Mason Williams | ... | soundtrack executive producer |
Additional Crew
| Monica Alexander | ... | footage courtesy of |
| Destiny Blackwell | ... | assistant to Lisa Cortes |
| Chris Dorley Brown | ... | photos courtesy of (as Chris Dorley-Brown) |
| Donna Brucale | ... | production accountant |
| Joseph Carbonaro | ... | production assistant |
| David Cohen | ... | production accountant |
| Jennifer Dargan | ... | public relations: for CNN Films |
| Jonathan DesVerney | ... | additional materials provided by |
| Dexter Fletcher | ... | production assistant |
| Josh Fonseca | ... | production assistant |
| Eric Fram | ... | clearance counsel: for Donaldson Callif Perez LLP |
| Jenny Freeman | ... | production assistant |
| Jim Galizia | ... | production assistant |
| Charles Glenn | ... | photos courtesy of |
| Tony Griffin | ... | footage courtesy of |
| Ella Guidry | ... | covid compliance officer |
| Roger Hallaway | ... | production assistant |
| Don Hudson | ... | photos courtesy of |
| Gideon C. Kennedy | ... | archival researcher / archive researcher (as Gideon Kennedy) |
| Rachel Kiwi | ... | legal services: for Loeb & Loeb LLP |
| George Lawrence | ... | footage courtesy of |
| Kelly MacLanahan | ... | legal: for CNN Films |
| Jennifer Margolis | ... | production coordinator |
| Anne Kennedy McGuire | ... | legal services: for Loeb & Loeb LLP |
| Nathalie Mercado | ... | covid compliance officer |
| Matt Miller | ... | production assistant |
| Tor Miller | ... | production assistant |
| Nhu Nguyen | ... | production assistant |
| Rosie O'Donovan | ... | production assistant |
| D.A. Pennebaker | ... | additional materials provided by |
| Chris Perez | ... | clearance counsel: for Donaldson Callif Perez LLP |
| David Pierce | ... | additional materials provided by |
| Bill Ray | ... | footage courtesy of |
| Rich Remsberg | ... | archive researcher |
| Billie Jo Reynolds | ... | production assistant |
| Nicole Ruben | ... | assistant to Robert Friedman |
| Sir Lady Java | ... | photos courtesy of (as Patty Deville/Sir Lady Java) |
| Brian Smith | ... | photos courtesy of |
| Erica Snyder | ... | production assistant |
| Daryl Steiger | ... | legal services: for Loeb & Loeb LLP |
| Neil Strauss | ... | footage courtesy of |
| Burt Sugarman | ... | additional materials provided by |
| Andres Varela | ... | production assistant |
| Brendan Warner | ... | production assistant |
| Terry Webster | ... | additional materials provided by / photos courtesy of |
| Keith Winslow | ... | consultant |
| Stacey Wolf | ... | business affairs: for CNN Films |
| Alexandre Yousefzadeh | ... | clearance counsel: for Donaldson Callif Perez LLP |
| Borys Steve Zaichuk | ... | production assistant |
Thanks
| Lee Angel | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Libby Anthony | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Gary Atkinson | ... | special thanks |
| Gillian Atkinson | ... | special thanks |
| Jonathan Azu | ... | special thanks |
| Fred Bailan | ... | special thanks (as Fred Bailin) |
| Kelly Lee Blackwell | ... | special thanks / thanks |
| LuAnn Boylan | ... | special thanks |
| John Branca | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Ida-Lee Brandel | ... | special thanks |
| Daisy Brown | ... | special thanks |
| Denise Brown | ... | special thanks |
| Courtny Catzel | ... | thanks |
| Evan S. Cohen | ... | special thanks |
| Newt Collier | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Barry Collings | ... | special thanks |
| Queenie Connor | ... | special thanks |
| John Cook | ... | special thanks |
| Ashon Crawley | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Fran Curtis | ... | thanks |
| Bill Dahl | ... | special thanks |
| Liz DeCesare | ... | thanks (as Liz Decesare) |
| Fran Defeo | ... | special thanks |
| Mike Dill | ... | special thanks |
| David Donaldson | ... | special thanks |
| Amon Drum | ... | special thanks |
| Nate Erwin | ... | special thanks |
| David Espar | ... | special thanks |
| Barney Fields | ... | special thanks |
| Charles Glenn | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Lewis Grant | ... | special thanks |
| Shade Grant | ... | thanks |
| Peter Guralnick | ... | special thanks |
| Fredara Hadley | ... | thanks: interviewee (as Fredera Hadley) |
| Ralph Harper | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Nona Hendryx | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Ramon Hervey | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Tamara N. Houston | ... | special thanks (as Tamara Houston) |
| Todd Howe | ... | special thanks |
| Anne Hubbell | ... | special thanks |
| Brenton Hund | ... | special thanks |
| Todd Ivicek | ... | special thanks |
| Muriel Jackson | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Mick Jagger | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Dominique Jones | ... | special thanks |
| Tom Jones | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Mona Kayhan | ... | special thanks |
| Rich Keller | ... | special thanks |
| Bella King | ... | special thanks |
| Jason King | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Samantha Kives | ... | special thanks |
| Sheila Lakin | ... | special thanks |
| Devon Lawrence | ... | special thanks |
| Arielle Lever | ... | thanks |
| Dwayne Lightsey Jr. | ... | special thanks |
| Mariam Linna | ... | special thanks |
| Brian Litwin | ... | special thanks |
| Tia McLewee | ... | special thanks |
| Andrew Mer | ... | special thanks |
| Merck Mercuriadis | ... | special thanks |
| Jarvis Miller | ... | special thanks |
| Joyce Moore | ... | thanks |
| Kevin Morris | ... | special thanks |
| Michael Neubert | ... | special thanks |
| Tony Newman | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Tavia Nyong'o | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Gorgeous George Odell | ... | special thanks (as Gorgeous George) |
| Pierre Pennone | ... | special thanks |
| Stephen Pielocik | ... | special thanks |
| Billy Porter | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Peter Raleigh | ... | special thanks |
| Timo Reijola | ... | special thanks |
| Morris Roberts | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Zandria Robinson | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Maggie Rodford | ... | special thanks |
| Nile Rodgers | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Lowell Shapiro | ... | special thanks |
| Lena Sherman | ... | special thanks |
| Sir Lady Java | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Brian Smart | ... | special thanks |
| John Stamos | ... | special thanks |
| John Stavas | ... | special thanks |
| Stanley Stewart | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Steven Storch | ... | special thanks |
| Lisa Stutts | ... | special thanks |
| Jeannette Taylor | ... | special thanks |
| Jess Teutonico | ... | special thanks |
| Sabrina Thomas | ... | special thanks |
| Greg Tock | ... | special thanks |
| Billy Vera | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Little Walter | ... | special thanks |
| John Waters | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Terry Webster | ... | special thanks |
| Andrea White | ... | special thanks |
| DeWitt Williams | ... | thanks: interviewee (as Dr. Dewitt S. Williams) |
| Keith Winslow | ... | thanks: interviewee |
| Chantelle Woodnutt | ... | special thanks |
| Ben Wynne | ... | special thanks |
| Debra Zimmerman | ... | thanks |
| Jeff Zucker | ... | special thanks |