Cadillac Records chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists, which included Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright), colorful harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short), Chuck Berry (Mos Def), and Etta James (Beyoncé Knowles). The film follows the exciting but turbulent lives of these American musical legends in a tale of sex, violence, race, and rock 'n' roll in 1950s and '60s Chicago. Each is revered by a new generation of musicians, but they have also each earned and lost a small fortune on booze, women, and the high life, and their addictions begin to take their toll. Even as tragedy befalls, their music and their spirit remain strong: As the '60s wind down and Leonard Chess gets out of the record business, the blues live on.