Director Darnell Martin’s 2008 movie “Cadillac Records,” which was released in United States theaters on December 5, pays tribute to the golden years of Chicago blues, by telling the story of the rise of Chess Records and the artists that recorded with the label.

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Chess Records specialized in blues, R&B, gospel music, early rock and roll and occasionally, jazz and was run by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess from 1956 to 1965. During that time, the company released many major albums, which today are part of what is called the rock music „canon.”

The label’s most famous location at 2120 S. Michigan Avenue was honored by iconic British rock band The Rolling Stones in their song „2120 S. Michigan,” which was recorded there in 1964.

„Cadillac Records” stars actor Jeffrey Wright as singer and guitarist Muddy Waters, a blues musician regarded as the „Father of Chicago blues” and also one of the greatest bluesmen in history.

Wright, who portrayed former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell in Oliver Stone’s biopic about George W. Bush „W,” manages to steer clear of any cliches concerning his character’s public life, showing the turmoil of a musical genius striving to cope with his apprehensions, ego, ambition and sex-life instead.

The production also celebrates artists such as Little Walter (Columbus Short), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles), Howlin’ Wolf (Eamonn Walker) and Willie Dixon.

In the movie, all the latter receive a new Cadillac from Leonard Chess ( played by Adrien Brody), a Jewish entrepreneur who aims to exploit them and their talent for his own profit, as the story about urban blues in the 1940s and ’50s unfurls on the notes of unparalleled performances by Wright and Knowles.

„Cadillac Records” was both directed and written by Darnell Martin, 44, who was the first African-American woman to direct a movie produced by a major studio, the 1994 „I Like It Like That” (Columbia Pictures).