Bart ingests a free jagged metal Krusty-O and is rushed to the hospital, where his appendix is removed. While visiting Bart, Lisa runs into Bleeding Gums Murphy, who is a patient at the hospital. Bleeding Gums recounts his career in show business and offers Lisa his prized sax to use at her upcoming jazz festival.

After the recital, Lisa learns that Bleeding Gums has passed away. Depressed, she attends the jazzman's funeral services and is angered that no one in town really knew Bleeding Gums or his music.

Meanwhile, Lionel Hutz offers to represent Bart in a suit against Krusty-O Cereal Corporation. Bart settles for $100,000, but receives only $500 after attourney's fees. When Lisa asks a local DJ to honor Bleeding Gums with a tribute, she finds out that his lone album is very rare and costs $500. Bart buys the album for his downcast sister with his settlement. As the record plays at the low-power radio station, a bolt of lightning strikes the station's antenna, broadcasting the music throughout Springfield.