Jim Marshall "The Godfather" of Rock Photography Dies at 74

Written by Ricard Gibbons Thursday, 25 March 2010 21:13

New York, NY  - Rock and roll photographer Jim Marshall, who spent more than a half a century capturing images of rock and roll greats like Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Grateful Dead in action, has died at 74. Marshall’s death was confirmed Wednesday by Aaron Zych, a manager at Morrison’s Hotel Galleries in New York City. Marshall was scheduled to promote his new book with celebrity photographer Timothy White before he apparently died in his sleep while alone in his New York City hotel room, Zych Said.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Jim Marshall’s images are considered legendary, as many music photographers consider him "the godfather" of rock photography.

According to his professional Web site, the photographer had more than 500 album covers to his credit but Marshall was best-known for his photos of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where he photographed Jimi Hendrix while setting his guitar ablaze.

The photographer also took images from the legendary 1969 Woodstock concert, where he captured 'The Who' tearing up the stage after their early morning set.

He was also the only photographer granted backstage access at The Beatles' final concert in San Francisco in Candlestick Park in 1966.

His uncanny timing at capturing images and his rapport with artists also helped him capture Johnny Cash "flipping the bird" at his San Quentin prison performance in 1969.

"This 'career' has never been just a job — it's been my life," Marshall once remarked.

He was born in Chicago on February 3, 1936. At age 2, he moved with his parents to San Francisco. He brought his first Leica camera in 1959 and, a year later, had a “life changing meeting” with jazz saxophonist John Coltrane.

Marshall took first to taking pictures of legendary jazz musicians such as Coltrane, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk before he discovered rock and roll and eventually met and photographed talents like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane.

Before his death, Marshall’s more recent subjects included the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ben Harper.

The late photographer’s work has appeared in countless magazines and books—a collection of his photographic work was, in fact, seen in four books. His most recent published collection, “Match Point,” is in collaboration with Timothy White.