
The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.
Leonard Chess

Muddy Waters

Geneva Wade

Little Walter

Willie Dixon

Revetta Chess

Howlin' Wolf

Isabelle Allen

Alan Freed

Chess Engineer

Chuck Berry

Etta James

Mick Jagger

Man in the Caddy
Lomax

Keith Richards
Policeman (Little Walter beating)
Geneva's Teenage Son

Blonde Girl

Toothless Hillbilly Little Walter
Charles Waters
Policeman (with Chuck Berry)

Phil Chess

Shelly Feder

Engineer - Present Day

Slick Pimp

Minnie Ripperton

Pot Strong
Policeman (with the Stones)

Bartender

Muddy - Age 6

Maid

Mysterious Black Man

Hubert Sumlin

Harmonica Player

Pot's Girlfriend Juanita

Jimmy Rogers

Manager

Bouncer

Another Blonde
Man Who Rolled 7
Hip Hop Artist

Muddy's Grandmother
Muddy's Floozy #1
Producer - Present Day

Mr. Feder

Guitarist

James Cotton

Muddy's Floozy #2
Mississippi DJ

Guitar Player (uncredited)
Little Walter's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Teenybopper (uncredited)

Overseer (uncredited)
Picnic Boyfriend (uncredited)
Mississippi DJ (uncredited)

Chuck Berry Concertgoer (uncredited)

Etta's Violinist (uncredited)

Etta's Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Young Lover (uncredited)

Girlfriend (uncredited)
Field Worker (uncredited)
Chicago Cop (uncredited)

Vendor (uncredited)
Bystander (uncredited)

Little Walter's Girlfriend (uncredited)

Muddy's Band Member (uncredited)
Muddy Waters' Girlfriend (uncredited)
Shocked Bystander (uncredited)
Officer Brown (uncredited)
Dice Player (uncredited)
