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Blog by Don Kennedy

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Cadillac Records

Cadillac Records takes us back to Chicago in the’50’s and the genesis of Rock and Roll. Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) was a colour blind nightclub owner with a passion for rhythm and blues. After he opened the legendary Chess records he would reward his label stable who achieved success with a new Cadillac – and what a stable: Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Chuck Berry and Etta James. Being successful at a time when this vibrant art form was openly referred to as “race” music was not easy. Temper that with some pretty volatile musical personalities and the job got even harder. Voiced over by Cedric the Entertainer (as Willie Dixon), Muddy waters is the focal character faithfully resurrected by Jeffrey Wright. Beyonce Knowles sizzles as Etta James and Mos Def completely captures the sly affable legend Chuck Berry. Cadillac Records is an absorbing perspective on the people responsible for influencing so many performers (mostly from Britain) who later achieved huge success by emulating these musical pioneers.

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