Photographer Baron Wolman got close enough to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead to make anyone jealous. Known for his work during the early days of Rolling Stone magazine, Wolman brings his work to Frenchmen Street this weekend, for a shared exhibit with New Orleans photographer Bob Compton.
Anyone with a love of rock & roll photography will want to be at the Scott Edwards Gallery (2109 Decatur at Frenchmen) beginning this weekend, when original Rolling Stone photographer Baron Wolman and New Orleans photographer Bob Compton bring their exhibit “We Saw the Music” to town.
Steve Miller x Baron Wolman | c.1967
Baron Wolman was Rolling Stone magazine’s first photography editor from 1967-1970, creating many iconic images of that era’s royalty. He photographed Hendrix both in full glory onstage and relaxing afterward; and got some especially thoughtful shots of Pete Townshend at work. Some of his photos, including a shot of Steve Miller, made it onto album covers.
But some of his lesser-known ones are more revealing: Johnny Cash backstage in 1967, holding a cigarette and already looking like a dignified elder statesman. Or, George Harrison on a couch at the Apple offices, wearing psychedelic striped pants and engrossed in a paperback — only the position of his left leg, stretched up onto the couch, shows his underlying nervous energy. And a sharp Jeff Beck leaning on the dashboard of a souped-up Ford sportscar, writing a check out to a couple of business-suited car dealers.
Johnny Cash x Baron Wolman | c.1967
Wolman’s later career went beyond music into aerial landscapes, fashion and photojournalism; he even devoted a 1975 book to the Oakland Raiders. But his Rolling Stone photos were collected into a recent Omnibus book, Every Picture Tells a Story: The Rolling Stone Years, and these will be featured in the exhibit.
Arkansas native Bob Compton lived in New Orleans from 1996 until Katrina; he captured the soul of the city through a series of street and neighborhood photographs, concentrating on the sections that tourists usually miss. As a music photographer, he caught a number of local legends (Snooks Eaglin, Fats Domino) and jamband icons (Phil Lesh, Widespread Panic). He also captured an iconic photo of the late Ike Turner with B.B. King, a shot that practically screams “study in contrasts.”
Ike Turner & B.B. King x Bob Compton
THE EXHIBIT:
“We Saw the Music” runs April 13 – June 1 in the main gallery of Scott Edwards Gallery (2109 Decatur St.), and in the back gallery from June 8 – August 3.
There will be a reception for Bob Compton from 7pm – Midnight on Saturday, April 13 (French Quarter Fest), and for Baron Wolman from 7pm – Midnight on Saturday, April 27 (Jazz Fest).
The two will also do a photographer’s workshop from 2pm – 5pm on Saturday, April 27.
More Info: www.scottedwardsgallery.com
