Folk

August 12th, 1978. I grew up on classical music in my house. We only listened to WFMT in Chicago. BUT… on Saturday night at 10:30PM they had a folk music show called The Midnight Special. Two hours of some of the greatest music I had ever heard!! My mother let me stay up to listen to it, and I learned about Peter Paul and Mary, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan and many more. The program morphed into more of a roots show- my first introduction to blues was here. So to get to photograph my heroes was one of my great thrills. But to photograph three people on stage is extremely difficult. But they made it easier for me by having a three headed microphone stand which brought them together. Then it was a matter of getting them to all look good in one shot.

June 10th, 1981. Another one of my idols, this photograph was taken during his Gospel period, and I think it shows the power behind everything he does.

June 11th, 2017, I first met Rhiannon when she was the lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a roots band that delved into blues, folk and anything else that sounded good from the last century. Then she went solo and also acted in the last two seasons of the television show “Nashville.” She came to town to play at the Chicago Blues Festival in 2017. I vowed that I wouldn’t take too many pictures- but as soon as she started I started shooting and couldn’t stop until she was done. Her performance ranks as one of the best in the history of the festival.

June 15th, 2000, I was asked to photograph Robbie for a magazine called Harp. So I drove up to his house and he was playing in the front yard with the heir to the Fulks’ fortune. Made for a great picture and we were done in about 4 minutes.

August 30th, 2001, I was asked to shoot the show for the lighting company, so hence the lighting in the picture. Hopefully, this photograph shows what a nice person James is. Reminds me of a story: In 2000, I was road managing Brian Wilson. We were playing at Symphony Hall in Boston, where James’ friend was the publicist. She told me that he might be coming by. So, I’m sitting in the production office and there is a quiet knock on the door and there stands James Taylor. He asked me if he could sit out in the house and watch the soundcheck. My response- you are freaking James Taylor- you can go any place you want. He chuckled and off he went.

August 11th, 1981, I have photographed her many times, and I consider her a friend. Her story is pretty amazing. Number one song in America at 17, then a long career, proving that even a child star can stay successful, as long as they have a good head on their shoulders.

September 23rd, 1978, In the late 1970’s Chicago experienced a “folk boom” led by John Prine and Steve Goodman. John was a mailman from Maywood, Illinois by way of Kentucky who wrote songs while delivering mail and Steve was a short Jewish kid from the north side of Chicago. Between them they wrote some of the most enduring songs of their or any generation. John will go down in history as one of the greatest songwriters in music, with Steve not far behind. If one were to catch them playing together on stage it was a situation to be treasured.

March 13th, 1987. I have photographed Paul many times over the years, and he never fails to surprise me. He changes genres like most people change socks, but always seems to accomplish his goal.

April 1st, 1978. Between his beautiful voice and the way the light catches his hair, he is always fun to photograph.

August 4th, 1978 in Chicago. After the success of Alice’s Restaurant, Arlo started touring non-stop and I always caught him when he arrived in Chicago. A great performer with an amazing musical heritage.

September 15, 1997. I photographed her when she was touring opening for Bob Dylan. Her fans started leaving when she was through- they couldn’t figure out what to make of the old guy with the gravely voice!

July 13th, 1987. Susanne’s record company asked me to go to her hotel and shoot a publicity shot of her. Was a very easy job.