Opening on April 6, in limited release, is director Jerry Zaks' Who Do You Love. The movie is the story of legendary record producer Leonard Chess, founder of Chess Records, the label that helped popularize Blues music during the 1950s and '60s.
To help promote the film, we've been given the poster to premiere, so hit the jump to check it out. We've also posted the full synopsis and cast list.
"Who Do You Love" is a great snapshot of the era in which the music that was to become the foundation of Rock & Roll was created. The music, the cars, the clothes, and the many amazing characters of my childhood are brought to life in this film, which also gives a taste of the many roads travelled by my family to make Chess Records one of the greatest record labels of all time."
-- Marshall Chess
Here's the synopsis:
Who Do You Love is the life story of legendary record producer Leonard Chess, founder of Chess Records in Chicago, IL, the label that helped popularize blues music during the 1950s and '60s.
Leonard, a Jewish immigrant from Poland and the son of a junkyard dealer, is mesmerized by the Black music and culture that surrounds him. Leonard and his brother Phil, open a club called the Macomba, and gamble on producing "race records" with the help of bass player and songwriter, Willie Dixon. After initial failure, they find tremendous success with the extraordinary Muddy Waters. As Muddy Waters becomes wildly popular, Leonard and Phil Chess create Chess Records. Leonard's obsession with the music business strains his family life, but Leonard makes great efforts to make things right at home with his wife Revetta, and son Marshall. As his priorities are changing, so is the music world around him. The Chess brothers put blues on the map as it radically reinvented itself as Rock 'n ' Roll.
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click on the poster for a high res version
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CAST
Leonard Chess ............................Alessandro Nivola
Muddy Waters .............................David Oyelowo
Willie Dixon (Dix) ..........................Chi McBride
Phil Chess ..................................Jon Abrahams
Ivy Mills .......................................Megalyn Echikunwoke
Revetta .......................................Marika Dominczyk
Elgin Evers ..................................Derrick Martin
Jimmy Rogers ..............................Kevin Moore
Bo Diddley ................................. Robert Randolph
Little Walter .................................Miko Defoor
Andrew Tibbs ..............................Raheem DeVaughn
Billy Breeze.................................Ryan Shaw
Malcom Chisolm ..........................Joe Chrest
Lonnie Johnson ...........................TJ Hassan
Alan Freed ..................................Ian Leson
Marshall (7/8-years-old) .................Tendal Jaret Mann
Little Johnson ..............................Gavin Lewis
Sheva ........................................Lisa Goldstein
Leonard (13-years-old) ..................Ryan Puszewski
Hank Lakin .................................Roy McCrerey
Joe Chess ..................................Dan Triandiflou
Jake ..........................................J.D. Evermore
Phil (8-years-old) ..........................Benjamin Rose
FILMMAKERS
Director.......................................Jerry Zaks
Writers........................................Peter Wortmann & Bob Conte
Producers................................... Les Alexander, Andrea Baynes & Jonathan Mitchell
Executive Producers..................... Gideon Amir & Dennis Brown
Co-Producer............................... Robert Conte & Peter Wortmann
Casting ......................................Stacey Rosen, C.S.A.
Executive Music Producers ............Budd Carr & Nora Felder
Original Music .............................Jeff Beal
Production Designer .....................Carey Meyer
Director of Photography ................David Franco
Costume Designer .......................Christine Peters
Editors .......................................Scott Richter & Anthony Redman