Finally, some Chess moves
Good news for music fans from the film world today, as the Hollywood Reporter noted that Matt Dillon will play Leonard Chess in a movie about Chess Records, the legendary Chicago blues label that helped define rock ‘n’ roll.
No word on which musicians the film will focus on yet, but hopefully it goes beyond obvious choices like Chuck Berry, and showcases the influence of such artists as Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters.
The Sony BMG film, titled “Cadillac Records,” is slated to begin shooting in January, the trade reports.
Leonard Chess (real name: Lejzor Czyz) was born in Poland and immigrated with his family to Chicago, where he and his brother Phil were nightclub impresarios before starting Chess.
The story of Chess intertwines with Memphis’ Sun Records, as Sun’s Sam Phillips supplied early artists (Howlin’ Wolf among them) to the Chicago label. The title is a nod to Chess’ habit of selling records from the trunk of his Cadillac.
Chess is long overdue for rediscovery. Memphis has a rock’n’roll museum and tourists can tour the original Motown studios in Detroit, but Chicago’s blues history sorely lacks such trappings. A hit Hollywood film would certainly help, but let’s hope Sony BMG doesn’t give Chess the same treatment it gave reggaetón.
(Photo, Howlin' Wolf, courtesy Blue Sea Productions)
