Blues

December of 2017. This was the last shot of an album cover shoot. It was the coldest day of the year (about 20 below zero wind chill) and I had to bargain with Buddy to go outside! I told him that we would only be out there for two minutes, and that I would go out there without a coat if he would do the same. We started shooting as his manager started counting down the time. When he reached the two minute mark we all raced back inside. These were the best pictures of the entire shoot.

March of 1977 in Chicago. This was the first picture that I sold to a publication. While I was at the show, I heard that the Reader (a free publication in Chicago) was going to review the show. So I stayed up all night developing the film, making proofs and making a few prints, which I quickly washed, and dried on the dashboard of my car as I drove to the Reader office. I dropped them off and, when I picked up that week’s Reader, I found out that I had just become a “professional” photographer with my first published image.

October of 1991 in Chicago. I never missed the opportunity to photograph the “King of the Blues.” His expressive face (almost always displaying a smile) and his monster guitar tone always made for an amazing evening of sights and sounds.

September of 1990 in Chicago. Honeyboy’s manager brought him over to my studio for a photo shoot. They were at my place for about 2 hours. During that time, I kept up a running conversation with him. My responses consisted of “yup” and “uh huh,” because during the conversation I never understood a word that he said!! (He mumbled).

June of 2015 in Chicago. This photograph was taken at the Chicago Blues Fest during Shemekia’s first main stage performance. I had been photographing her since she was a teenager, and had photographed her father (Johnny) several times, and it was great seeing her come into her own as the new “Queen of the Blues.”

February of 1984 in Chicago. Photograph from the album shoot for Johnny’s first Alligator Records album “Guitar Slinger.” This ended up being a publicity image.

August of 1990 in East Troy, Wisconsin. This photograph was taken on the day before Stevie died in a helicopter crash. He had just gotten sober and was on the verge of superstardom. It was a great loss for the music world.

February of 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio. This photograph was taken on assignment for Guitar World Magazine. The airline broke all of my lights so I had to shoot black and white with available light. Happy accident which resulted in a really cool photograph.

April of 1980 in Niles, Illinois. I went to this show not knowing that Bonnie’s idol, Sippie Wallace was going to be opening the show. Also didn’t know that Bonnie would bring Sippie out for a song during her set. Extra bonus: The sublime fashion statement by Sippie. Not many people can pull off wearing a dead fox around their neck!!

August of 1997 in Chicago. This photograph was taken during the shoot for the cover of Carey’s Alligator Records album “Good Luck Man.” It ended up being used in the packaging but not the cover.

January of 2019 in Chicago. This photograph was taken at Buddy Guy’s club when Kingfish was opening for Buddy. Rolling Stone Magazine’s new blues artist of the year in 2018, Kingfish backed up that claim and continues to wow audiences worldwide.

December of 2002 in Chicago. This photograph was taken for the cover of Michael’s first Alligator Records album. Bruce from Alligator wanted some smoke in the photograph so he brought over a bowl and about 50 sticks of incense. Genius!!! He lit the incense and placed the bowl on the floor behind Michael, I lit the smoke, and the rest is history. My house smelled like incense for about a month afterword.

June of 1998 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. This photograph was taken at a beer festival in the middle of a horse racing track. I was ushered into John Lee’s dressing room and immediately noticed his socks. So I took the camera off of the tripod and laid down on the floor under a counter, rested the camera on the floor and shot three rolls of film. Three of the best rolls I ever shot! Not certain if he was awake or not, but the pictures were great.

June of 1979 in Chicago. Great when a happy accident happens!! Muddy was opening for Eric. All the other photographers took a few pictures of Muddy and then walked away. Halfway through Muddy’s set, Eric came walking out to join him. A few minutes later Johnny (who was in town producing Muddy’s new album) joined in on the fun. This picture went all over the world, including in a box set of Muddy’s stuff.

June of 1986 in Chicago. This photograph was part of a series taken for a now defunct Chicago based magazine for an article titled “Women of the Blues.” So one day these great women started showing up at my house every hour on the hour for an entire afternoon. Koko was the last one, and a nicer person cannot be found. It was an honor to be photographing the “Queen of the Blues” in my studio.

January of 1994 in Chicago. It isn’t often that one gets to meet their hero. In 1994, Otis released his first (and only) major label album and the publicity machine started working. In one week’s time I got assignments from three guitar magazines, all needing portraits of Otis. So I would make the appointment, drive to his apartment building, and he and his lovely wife Masaki would jump in my car and we would head back to my studio (a short distance) with time enough for me to ask him tons of questions. We would do a shoot and I would bring them home. A couple of days later, like Groundhog Day, we would do it all over again!

July of 1984 in Berwyn, Illinois. I photographed the “King of Zydeco” for an album that never happened but he was such a cool guy that I didn’t even care!!!

November of 2007 in Chicago. Eddy was part American Indian, and never left home without his headdress, in its own case. After shooting for a few hours, he pulled it out and I knew we had the “money shot”.

September of 2014 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Gary was just starting to hit it big when he played Farm Aid in Saratoga Springs. To see him play in front of 20,000 people was a lesson in showbiz moves. His show built to a frenzied climax and left the audience breathless.

June of 1995 in Chicago. Luther came over to my studio the day after his triumphant headlining gig at the Chicago Blues Fest. (another one of my heroes walks into my house!!) He immediately dumps a bag of Snickers Bars on the counter (with the writing on the label in French) and explains that French Snickers Bars tasted much better than American ones! He was right (much higher sugar content) We then proceeded to shoot the album cover, on which Alligator Records wanted to see movement. This is much easier to do now with digital photography, as you can see what you have rather than having to wait and hope it worked until you got the film developed, It worked- I got about 3 good images out of 200 tries.