Photographer: Leni Sinclair
Biography:
Leni Sinclair fled from communist East Germany when she was 18 years old and made her way to Detroit, Michigan, where she enrolled at Wayne State University. In 1964, Sinclair co-founded the Detroit Artists Workshop and began photographing avant-garde jazz artists like Cecil Taylor, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and many others. Leni married fellow student John Sinclair and continued to be heavily involved in the counter culture revolution by photographing bands such as the MC5, Iggy Pop, and the Stooges. Leni Sinclair helped organize the “Free John Sinclair” concert in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1971, headlined by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Bob Seger and Stevie Wonder where John Lennon performed his song, “John Sinclair,” about Leni’s husband. Leni Sinclair’s historically iconic photos have appeared in countless newspapers, magazines, books, LP and CD covers.
Genres Photographed: Blues, Folk, Rock, Reggae, R&B, Vocal, Jazz
Years Active: 1962-2005
Favorite Bands: MC5, Bob Marley
Featured Photos
Artists Photographed
Blues (16 artists)
- Albert King (15)
- B.B. King (103)
- Bobo Jenkins (8)
- Buddy Guy (158)
- Eddie "Guitar" Burns (10)
- Eddie Burns Blues Band (1)
- Freddie King (61)
- John Lee Hooker (26)
- Junior Wells (16)
- Kenny Miller Blues Band (12)
- Luther Allison (39)
- Luther Allison Blues Band (5)
- Mighty Joe Young (1)
- Muddy Waters (57)
- One String Sam (7)
- Willie D. Warren & Mystery Train (15)
Folk (1 artists)
Rock (16 artists)
- Big Brother & The Holding Company (1)
- Bob Seger (52)
- Bob Seger & Silver Bullet Band (48)
- Dallas Hodge (1)
- Detroit Wheels (1)
- Dr. John (24)
- Grateful Dead (57)
- Iggy Pop (29)
- James Brown (22)
- John Lennon & Yoko Ono (2)
- MC5 (30)
- Mojo Boogie Band (2)
- Prince (27)
- Rolling Stones (405)
- Who (224)
- Wild Boys (3)
Reggae (9 artists)
- Bob Marley (9)
- Bob Marley & The Wailers (72)
- Dennis Brown (3)
- I-Tal (5)
- Jimmy Cliff (20)
- Mighty Diamonds (8)
- Peter Tosh (9)
- R. Zee Jackson (1)
- Toots & The Maytals (7)
R&B (13 artists)
- Al Green (16)
- Aretha Franklin (30)
- Bill Withers (1)
- Billy Paul (1)
- Earl King (4)
- Fats Domino (2)
- Four Tops (19)
- Luther Vandross (1)
- Martha Reeves (1)
- Marvin Gaye (1)
- Patti LaBelle (6)
- Ray Charles (43)
- Smokey Robinson (19)
Vocal (1 artists)
- Ella Fitzgerald (1)
Jazz (27 artists)
- Albert Ayler Quartet (1)
- Archie Shepp (2)
- Art Blakey (3)
- Cab Calloway (2)
- Charles Mingus (2)
- Dexter Gordon (6)
- Dizzy Gillespie (6)
- Donald Byrd (1)
- Donald Byrd & The Blackbyrds (4)
- Gato Barbieri (5)
- Griot Galaxy (3)
- Herbie Hancock (6)
- James "Blood" Ulmer (2)
- John Coltrane (5)
- John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk (1)
- King Sunny Ade (6)
- Larry Nozero (4)
- Marcus Belgrave (3)
- Miles Davis (4)
- Miller Briskas (2)
- Norma Bell (1)
- Ornette Coleman (6)
- Pharoah Sanders (2)
- Sonny Rollins (14)
- Sun Ra (10)
- Tani Tabbal (6)
- Thelonious Monk (1)
My Photo Collection
My Photo Collection
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