Soul: Memphis Original Sound - Hardcover

Gilbert, Thom

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 889773748X ISBN 13: 9788897737483

Publisher: Officina Libraria (Acc), 2014

Synopsis

The book's mission is to document the legends of the Memphis soul music business. Photographer Thom Gilbert set up a photo studio at Royal Studios in Memphis, home of the famed Hi Records that launched the careers of Al Green, Ann Peebles, and dozens of others. The studio's "green room" was filled with soul music royalty: Bobby "Blue" Bland in his signature nautical cap, several of the Hodges brothers who make up the incomparable Hi Rhythm Section were on hand, Stax Records musicians Bobby Manuel, Lester Snell were there actually working on a recording, but pausing to have their portraits taken.

Gilbert has captured images of what seems like every living person related to Memphis soul music. From Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recorded spoken word albums on Stax's Respect Records label, to Sam Moore of the indelible soul duo Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Steve Cropper, B.B. King, Bobby Rush, and many others, including the lesser known but equally vital session players, writers, engineers, publicists who contributed to what is now world renowned as The Memphis Sound.

About this title

About the Author

Thom Gilbert was born in New York City and raised on Long Island. His work has been seen in Interview, New York Magazine, Gotham, NY Times Magazine, LA Confidential, GQ and Hampton's Magazine. He has won numerous awards including the Hasselblad Masters Series.

This is Mr. Gilbert's first solo book. He calls his portraiture honest. It comprises elements of trust he establishes with his subjects to bring out a moment of their true identity. Mr. Gilbert as already completed a similar approach with the pro surfing world and their culture called Now You See Them as well as a project photographing the people who were closest to Elvis Presley titled Brushing Shoulders with Elvis.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

When Bones Malone, Paul Shaffer, John Belushi and I assembled the Blues Brothers Band we recruited 3 Memphis guitar players - Duck Dunn, Steve Cropper and Matt Murphy.

Matt migrated to the Chicago Urban Blues scene in the 50s and 60s. Duck and Steve provided the musical backbone for many of the Stax artists featured in this historical assembly of beautiful portraits.

Cropper and Dunn brought their talent to the Blues Brothers at once legitimizing our entire existence and furnishing us with the knowledge of their catalog which had us cover 'Soul Man', the Sam and Dave hit that became a number 1 record for us. To me, seeing Sam and Dave live at Expo 67 in Montreal was an epiphany which broadened my understanding of the African American songbook beyond Blues. This book of photographs is essential to any serious scholar of American Music and culture. It is a vibrant companion to the living careers of Sam Moore, Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper plus the many other still working, still playing Stax artists who keep this great body of music alive today. —Dan Aykroyd aka Elwood Blues

Edition details

• Publisher: Officina Libraria (Acc)
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 889773748X
• ISBN 13: 9788897737483
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 256