Photographer: Stanley Livingston

Biography:
 As a student at the University of Michigan, Stan Livingston began shooting the blues at the first Ann Arbor Blues Festival in 1969. Livingston felt fortunate to have local musician friends who had previously exposed him to the music scene, but for many students it was the first time they had ever heard the blues. He photographed legends Freddie King, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Magic Sam, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, and Albert King, among others. Also featured in his collection are many beautiful environmental portraits of the artists, including one of Johnny Shines when he ended up at Livingston’s studio after a blues festival benefit. Livingston’s friend was lamenting to Shines about how he could never figure out how to play one particular lick of a Robert Johnson song. Shines, who had traveled with Johnson for a few years, started singing in a beautiful, high, falsetto whisper of a voice, teaching the friend how to correctly play the tune. Livingston’s early interest in photographing musicians led to a career in commercial photography with a specialization in architecture. His photographs will be featured in a solo show titled, “The Blues in Black and White” in 2009 at the University of Ohio Art Museum.

Genres Photographed: Jazz, Rock, Blues, Other

Years Active: 1966 to 1970

Favorite Bands: Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Mississippi Fred

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