WareCollegeisasmallBlackcollegeinWare,Ohio.Onceprominent,itisnowlowinattendance,lowinenrollmentandlowonmoney;andatameetingwithinstructorsDruryandAnnabelleBrown,DeanHargreavesrevealsthatCEOBenjaminWareIII,grandsonofthecollege'sfounder,claimstheestateofhislategrandfatherisnowalsodestitute,whichtheybelieveisuntrueandaresultofAnnabelle'shavingspurnedhisaffections.Theydecidetoappealtotheirfamousalumniforfinancialhelpthruareunion,andinvitationsaresent.Manycouldhelp;butsurelynotLuciusJordan,atimidladwholovedAnnabelletoobutdroppedoutunderpressurefromWare.Whattheydon'tknowis,he'snowLouisJordan,kingofswingandleaderoftheTympaniBand.Byaccident,Jordanandhisband'strainissidelinedinWareforrepairsandwhenhelearnsofthecollege'splight,heagreestopitchin.