No substituting for blues greats

It’s one thing to reinterpret the work of a music icon, but it’s quite another to merely offer up even a “striking” imitation [“How ‘Cadillac’s’ Art Imitates Life,” by Robert Hilburn, Dec. 16]. Jeffrey Wright may be an excellent actor, but it is beyond presumptuous for the makers of “Cadillac Records” to substitute his vocals for those of blues maestro Muddy Waters (same for Beyonce and Etta James, et al).

In doing so, these preening egomaniacs insult their audience and demonstrate contempt for the very blues and R&B; pioneers this film purports to celebrate.

William D. Wolff

Tarzana