If all goes well, 'Cadillac Records' is shaping up to be the next big musical that will bring folks back to the past as some of the best musicians you probably haven't heard of, aside from a few, are being played on the big screen.
With Jeffrey Wright set to play Muddy Waters, Gabrielle Union has been recently cast to play his girlfriend-then wife Geneva Wade.
The story is about Leonard Chess, the legendary founder of the South Side Chicago blues label Chess Records. The period piece follows the rise and fall of Chess Records, which launched the careers of such R&B greats as Muddy Waters, Etta James and Chuck Berry. Chess, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, scoured the South, checking out the various blues scenes and selling records from the back of his Cadillac.
According to the book 'Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters' by Robert Gordon, Geneva Wade was Muddy Waters' girlfriend in the late 1940s. She would later become Mrs. Muddy Waters, Geneva Morganfield. Muddy's real name was McKinley Morganfield. Her kids through another relationship were raised by her and Muddy. The song 'Little Geneva' was based on her. The book states that Muddy was quoted as saying 'When I met her, even though I was a recording success, there were still people who scorned my music. Geneva encouraged me to ignore them and fight for what I wanted to accomplish. I'll never be able to put words the way I feel about her.'
Directed by Darnell Martin, the film also stars Adrian Brody as Leonard Chess, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, Beyonce Knowles as Etta James, Eamonn Walker as Howlin' Wolf, Columbus Short as Little Walter and Mos Def confirmed as Chuck Berry.
Currently filming in New Jersey, Sony BMG will release 'Cadillac Records' in 2009.
1. now this sounds pretty good !interesting cast of actors. but beyonce as etta james ???? hmmmmm...don't wanna hate but...i dunno.can't be no worse than diana ross playing lady day in "lady sinds the blues" but still....
al at 1:30PM on Mar 28th 2008