Picture the Blues

Picture this: performance and backstage photographs of B. B. King, Bukka White, Eddie “Son” House, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Buddy Guy,Sam “Lightnin'” Hopkins, Arthur Crudup, Junior Wells, J.B. Hutto, and practically every other master of the Blues, taken from the 60s to the Millennium. 

The photographer: music authority Dick Waterman. See the photos yourself in the exhibit Between Midnight and Day at the new Govinda Gallery at National Harbor (189 Waterfront St. National Harbor, MD).

Journalist Dick Waterman began producing Boston concerts by Blues greats in 1963, represented many of these artists in later years, and helped families administer the estates of those who passed on. He took photographs during those four decades of amazing musical performances. These powerful images reflect his personal relationship with the the artists, and the commitment of the musicians and the photographer to Blues music.

Mr. Waterman was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000.  A collection of his photographs was published as the 2004 book Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive  (preface by Bonnie Rait; introduction by Peter Guralnick).

Many of Dick Waterman’s images have remained unseen for 30 years or more, like the lost, breeze-borne tunes of undiscovered bluesmen. Now they share the fate of the blues veterans they depict: resonant again after decades in the dark. –David Friend, Vanity Fair

Gallery hours:Tuesday-Sunday 12-7PM.
The exhibit continues through July 31st.
Contact: Govinda at popart@govindagallery.com or 202-333-1180 

Hat tip: Cathy Ponton King, a great vocalist and guitarist. Don’t take my word for it: listen to this. Cathy appears free at National Harbor this Friday (June 11th), from 7 to 9p.m.

Image by Mike Licht. download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com