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American Music
A survey of the American musicians photographed over a thirty-year career by the most celebrated photographer in America. Annie Leibovitz's extraordinary career took off in San Francisco in 1970 when she first submitted a portfolio to Rolling Stone magazine. By 1973 she was the magazine's chief photographer. Since 1983 Annie Leibovitz has worked closely with Vanity Fair , who will be producing a special music issue to coincide with the book.Her subjects include Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Dolly Parton, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry and even Philip Glass. She has created a body of new work for the book, covering the landscape of American music - the juke joints of the Delta, Graceland, B. B. King at his hometown of Indianola in Mississippi and the Carter family in Virginia.The book is a tribute to a great culture in its widest form by the photographer who has understood more than anybody the power of the iconic image.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2003
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About the author
Annie Leibovitz
84 books227 followersAnna-Lou "Annie" Leibovitz is an American portrait photographer whose style is marked by a close collaboration between the photographer and the subject.
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Leibovitz is the third of six children in a Jewish family. Her mother was a modern dance instructor, while her father was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force. The family moved frequently with her father's duty assignments, and she took her first pictures when he was stationed in the Philippines.
In high school, she became interested in various artistic endeavours, and began to write and play music. She attended the San Francisco Art Institute. She became interested in photography after taking pictures when she lived in the Philippines, where her Air Force father was stationed during the Vietnam War. For several years, she continued to develop her photography skills while she worked various jobs, including a stint on a kibbutz Amir in Israel for several months in 1969.
When Leibovitz returned to America in 1970, she worked for the recently launched Rolling Stone magazine. In 1973, publisher Jann Wenner named Leibovitz chief photographer of Rolling Stone. Leibovitz worked for the magazine until 1983, and her intimate photographs of celebrities helped define the Rolling Stone look.
In 1975, Leibovitz served as a concert-tour photographer for The Rolling Stones' Tour of the Americas.
Since 1983, Leibovitz has worked as a featured portrait photographer for Vanity Fair.
Leibovitz sued Paramount Pictures for copyright infringement of her Vanity Fair cover photograph of a pregnant Demi Moore from a 1991 issue titled "More Demi Moore." Paramount had commissioned a parody photograph of Leslie Nielsen, pregnant, for use in a promotional poster for the 1994 comedy Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult. The case, Leibovitz v. Paramount Pictures Corp., has become an important fair use case in U.S. copyright law. At trial, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York found that Paramount's use of the photo constituted fair use because parodies were likely to generate little or no licensing revenue. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed.
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Leibovitz is the third of six children in a Jewish family. Her mother was a modern dance instructor, while her father was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force. The family moved frequently with her father's duty assignments, and she took her first pictures when he was stationed in the Philippines.
In high school, she became interested in various artistic endeavours, and began to write and play music. She attended the San Francisco Art Institute. She became interested in photography after taking pictures when she lived in the Philippines, where her Air Force father was stationed during the Vietnam War. For several years, she continued to develop her photography skills while she worked various jobs, including a stint on a kibbutz Amir in Israel for several months in 1969.
When Leibovitz returned to America in 1970, she worked for the recently launched Rolling Stone magazine. In 1973, publisher Jann Wenner named Leibovitz chief photographer of Rolling Stone. Leibovitz worked for the magazine until 1983, and her intimate photographs of celebrities helped define the Rolling Stone look.
In 1975, Leibovitz served as a concert-tour photographer for The Rolling Stones' Tour of the Americas.
Since 1983, Leibovitz has worked as a featured portrait photographer for Vanity Fair.
Leibovitz sued Paramount Pictures for copyright infringement of her Vanity Fair cover photograph of a pregnant Demi Moore from a 1991 issue titled "More Demi Moore." Paramount had commissioned a parody photograph of Leslie Nielsen, pregnant, for use in a promotional poster for the 1994 comedy Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult. The case, Leibovitz v. Paramount Pictures Corp., has become an important fair use case in U.S. copyright law. At trial, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York found that Paramount's use of the photo constituted fair use because parodies were likely to generate little or no licensing revenue. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 24, 2017
Even though I had little recognition of many of the performers in this collection Leibovitz’s portraits are, as always, stunning. I fully expected this book to house examples of the photographer’s range of music-themed portraits and concert photography, but I was surprised upon reading the introduction to discover that this collection is actually a re-exploration of the theme after she stepped away from the music scene many years ago. Instead of containing images from her days at the helm of Rolling Stone magazine’s photography department, she explores folk music, the Deep South, and the roots of American music. This unfortunately didn’t give me much context for the images, since I don’t really connect with that genre of music (or it’s players, besides maybe some basic name recognition), but I still enjoyed perusing this highly personal project.
November 16, 2024
Rock. Blues. Jazz. Country. Hip-Hop.
November 26, 2019
A fascinating journey through the paths of American music and those carrying on its traditions and creating their own. From country through blues to modern rock, rap, R&B, gospel and folk, Leibovitz gathers a wide scope of musicians into this oeuvre and, as always, some of these images are quite arresting. Willie Nelson in black-and-white profile, looking as monumental as a face on a mountain. The Roots giving an impromptu gig on the streets of Philadelphia in 2000. Brian Wilson alone, poolside, clad in bathrobe and beach shorts, a storm brewing in the distance. DJ Shadow in the process of splicing together unearthly beats from his massive hoard of records. Meg White strapped to a rotating target as Jack White prepares to throw the knife. The empty Preservation Hall in New Orleans, its namesake Jazz Band's instruments lying unclaimed in the dim morning light. Eartha Kitt from the waist down, her elegant legs draped dramatically over the cushions of a couch in lurid hotel light. The added essays from musicians inside range from the fascinating (Beck & Steve Earle) to the lyrical (Mos Def & Patti Smith) to the really ill-advised and creepy in hindsight (Ryan Adams).
August 19, 2019
I loved that the entire novel was really a letter, in a way. There’s a mystery at the center so I can’t say too much more. But this YA book was short and sweet. I really liked it.
February 5, 2017
Musical souls.
November 14, 2024
Die Bilder schauen heute anders zurück als früher. Zumal nach der Wahl von Trump. Warum wählen die den? Diese zerfurchten Americana-Gesichter: I shot a man in Reno just to see him die.
August 30, 2009
This is Leibovitz's photography of a broad slice of American music: from R.L. Burnside to Puff Daddy, from Johnny Cash to Aretha Franklin, from System of a Down to Lucinda Williams. It slices across genres and time. It's certainly not authoritative, but then this sort of work never can be.
It is, however, compelling. Most musicians here have dedicated their lives to music. Some are incredibly famous and wealthy, others are largely unknown. Even within the same level of fame, there is great diversity. Many musicians are shown with their families, in their homes or tour buses. The disparity is fascinating--it shows us that there are myriad meaning to 'music' in America.
There are short essays from a few musicians (including a seemingly ADD-addled Ryan Adams--or maybe he just writes like that) interspersed in the photos, and these are interesting, but not sensational. There are also one-paragraph bios for all the photos from Leibovitz which add some background, but they could have used an editor.
Ultimately, the book sets out to produce a sketch of music in America, and though this sounds like an incredibly vague goal, it accomplishes this.
It is, however, compelling. Most musicians here have dedicated their lives to music. Some are incredibly famous and wealthy, others are largely unknown. Even within the same level of fame, there is great diversity. Many musicians are shown with their families, in their homes or tour buses. The disparity is fascinating--it shows us that there are myriad meaning to 'music' in America.
There are short essays from a few musicians (including a seemingly ADD-addled Ryan Adams--or maybe he just writes like that) interspersed in the photos, and these are interesting, but not sensational. There are also one-paragraph bios for all the photos from Leibovitz which add some background, but they could have used an editor.
Ultimately, the book sets out to produce a sketch of music in America, and though this sounds like an incredibly vague goal, it accomplishes this.
September 26, 2014
Leibovitz's work is great. Beautiful tones and mood, and she chooses some great settings for the photos in this book. Her photography, brilliant as it is, usually doesn't do much for me. Just not my style. Too perfect, maybe. This book was different, though. Maybe because it featured many artists I really enjoy, or at least admire, and doesn't just focus on the superstars of the industry. Beside that subject matter, though, many of these photos just seem truer(?) than the stuff in other books of hers I've read.
Read
October 22, 2009this book combines my two favorite loves, music and photography. stunning pictures of "american music". so besides the superstars of top 40, it also contains some great jazz and bluesman. some of whom the world may not know, but they have been major influences in my life simce i was a boy. also, i'm reminded that my favorite photographer, lee friedlander, started as a photographer for blue note records and shot many jazz greats for the label and album covers.
May 4, 2012
This book was so cool and interesting. This is a collection of famous musicians and even some famous places in America's music history. I was drawn into the book when I heard that Ryan Adams was featured in the book, I didn't know all of the people that were pictured in the book, but she gave a little information on the pictures in the back which was cool. I especially loved the excerpt from Ryan Adams that he wrote. It was so awesome and so raw. Very cool book.
June 29, 2011
Something about these photos bugged me. Trying to be "real" but in a one-note (ha) way. Maybe this is just Leibovitz's perspective, HER reality? That's ok, but I got the feeling that I was supposed to be like "WOW, this is HONEST." But nearly everyone had the same facial expressions - wistfully lonesome or slightly hostile! I don't get ittttt. What am I missing?
October 19, 2007
Saw the exhibit at Austin MOMA -- the installation included iPod listening stations -- so not only were there the images of the musicians but one could hear the music -- wonderful. Naturally I had to pick up the a=catalogue/book before I left.
August 21, 2008
This particular book focuses on Annie's passion of musicians. I saw this show at the Rock N Roll Hall of fame a few years ago. The book is amazing but the show was WOW! I can't even describe how excited I was or inspired I was!
May 7, 2015
An awesome collection of Annie Leibovitz's music based work which includes a lot of her work for Rolling Stone. I've loved her work since I was in high school so adding this to my book collection was a must.
December 20, 2009
Beautiful, gut-level photographs of roots musicians, past and present, from Elvis Presley to Lucinda Williams and John Lee Hooker to Mary J. Blige. Some lyrical captioning. I bought it to thoroughly immerse myself in it and as a wonderful slice of Americana.
November 17, 2011
Lots of great photographs of some very talented people. The inclusion of information on each photo's subject at the end really adds to it as there are many musicians I wouldn't have known anything about if not for this book!
December 16, 2014
The prints are stunning and a lot of them cover two pages. There are rarely any stage shots in this book, just musicians hanging out in their element. Annie is a photographer who doesn't get in the way of the photos.
October 14, 2008
excellent, the show at EMP was incredible.
July 28, 2009
Piece two to owning all of her published work. I intend to own all some day
August 13, 2009
I found this book on the bargain table at the university bookstore. Great portraiture of some of the most iconic musicians in American history.
January 28, 2010
great pictures of great musician, you can almost smell and hear them
March 2, 2011
I thought this book was very different and I enjoyed it.
May 25, 2012
Simpelthen en fantastisk fotobog.
June 24, 2014
Pretty pictures
December 11, 2010
All the pictures and words are touching. Great book!
October 11, 2012
I can't sit and look through this book...whenever. It's inspiring, creative, and telling.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews