Jim Marshall

    Jim Marshall was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 3, 1936 and only two years later his family moved to San Francisco, California. In highschool Marshall became enamored with photography and cameras. He had a scrapbook of cut out pictures of cameras with their prices recorded in pencil next to them, eventually getting a Kodak Brownie for his first camera. He began his journey as a photographer taking pictures at Jazz clubs in San Francisco teaching himself how to use the camera, work with lighting and angles. After a year in the United States Air Force, Jim Marshall moved to New York to pursue a more professional career and was hired by Atlantic Records and Columbia Records.

    In 1960, he caught the eye and gained the trust of legendary musician John Coltrane, which was only the beginning of his own legend. Jim Marshall was known for his ability to catch candid and intimate moments of musicians which created some of the most iconic photos of all time. He was able to network and befriend these musicians easily because of his clear devotion to the art. Marshall was able to get photos of Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and many more great musicians in a greatly divided society in the 1960s creating art of immensely important moments in America. His work was part of a revolution in the United States and is held in high regard by more than just musicians and their fans. In an interview from his San Francisco apartment in 2006 Jim Marshall said “Me and a lot of the photographers in the 60s… were documenting a part of our history without really knowing it”.  

In 1966 Jim Marshall photographed The Beatles last concert at candlestick park and by 1968 was personally invited to document Johnny Cash’s live recording from Folsom Prison. The Folsom Prison and 1969 San Quentin prison photos of Johnny Cash are among some of the most iconic photos in not just music, but American history. 

Jim Marshall had a tremendously iconic and long career and stayed devoted to his craft until his death in 2010. His work remains at the top of music photography and in 2014, 4 years after he passed, he became the only photographer ever to receive an honorary Grammy Award.

JIm Marshall's Picture of Bob Dylan at a New York cafe in 1963, one of his best pictures and a perfect showcase of Marshalls ability to become part of the scene and capture a candid moment.

See more of Jim Marshalls work on his website: https://www.jimmarshallphotographyllc.com/