But on the side, he writes songs for a black singing group, and when a member of the quartet is arrested, Yussel covers for him at one of their gigs by wearing blackface. The nightclub engagement is a success, but one of the patrons notices Yussel's hands are white and becomes outspoken. A fight ensues, and the band is arrested. Yussel's father comes to the jail to bail them out and discovers there is not a Yussel Rabinovitch there, but a Jess Robin. His father questions him about this later, and Yussel confesses to him this is a professional stage name he uses when performing. His father tells him that his singing voice was to be used for God's purposes, not his own.