Jim Marshall (photographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Marshall
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Marshall at a book signing in 2009
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James Joseph Marshall
February 3, 1936 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | March 24, 2010 (aged 74) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Years active | 1959–2010 |
James Joseph Marshall (born February 3, 1936 – died March 24, 2010) was an American photographer. He was known for taking amazing pictures of musicians in the 1960s and 1970s. Jim Marshall earned the trust of the artists he photographed. This meant he could take pictures of them both on stage and behind the scenes. He was the official photographer for the Beatles' last concert. He also led the photography team at the famous Woodstock music festival.
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Early Life of Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall was born on February 3, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were from Iran. When he was two years old, his family moved to San Francisco, California.
While he was still in high school, Jim bought his first camera. He started taking pictures of musicians and artists in San Francisco. After serving in the United States Air Force for several years, he moved to New York for two years.
Jim Marshall's Photography Career
Jim Marshall was hired by big music companies like Atlantic Records and Columbia Records. He took pictures of their musical artists. His photos appeared on the covers of over 500 music albums. Many of his pictures were also published in Rolling Stone magazine.
He took famous photos like Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire. This happened at the Monterey Pop Festival. He also photographed Johnny Cash performing at San Quentin prison.
Jim's honest photos of musicians from the 1960s and 1970s were special. He took pictures both on stage and when they were not performing. This was possible because the artists trusted him and let him be around them. His pictures of artists like Neil Young, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, the Allman Brothers, The Who, Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane, Guns N' Roses, Santana, and the Beatles helped show who these artists were. They also helped define what rock 'n' roll photography looked like. Jim Marshall also photographed jazz musicians. These included Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis.
"When I'm photographing people, I don't like to give any direction. There are no hair people fussing around, no make-up artists. I'm like a reporter, only with a camera; I react to my subject in their environment, and if it's going well, I get so immersed in it that I become one with the camera."
Another famous photographer, Annie Leibovitz, called him "the rock 'n' roll photographer." Jim's work was featured in a book called Shooting Stars: the Rolling Stones Book of Portraits. This book was put together by Annie Leibovitz in 1973.
Jim also had other photography jobs. He photographed the Indianapolis 500 car race in 2005 for Autoweek magazine. In 2007, he photographed the new Nissan GT-R car when it was first shown.
Personal Life
Jim Marshall had a very strong personality. He often said, "I have no kids, My photographs are my children." He meant that his photos were very important to him.
Jim lived in San Francisco for most of his life. He passed away in New York City while on a trip. He was 74 years old when he died.
Awards and Recognition
Jim Marshall received several important awards for his photography.
- 2004: He won the Outstanding Achievement In Music Photography award at the Lucie Awards.
- 2014: After his death, he was given a special Trustees Award. This is part of the Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 56th Grammy Awards. He was the first and only photographer to receive this award as of 2014.
Films About Jim Marshall
A documentary film was made about Jim Marshall's life and work.
- Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall (2019) – This documentary was directed by Alfred George Bailey.
