American Music

More about the book

Musicians have played a pivotal role in Annie Leibovitz's celebrated career. She began her professional journey in 1970 as a nineteen-year-old student at the San Francisco Art Institute, submitting a portfolio to "Rolling Stone." By 1973, she was the magazine's chief photographer, producing a legendary body of work over the next decade. This collection features portraits from her archives, showcasing icons like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, the Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley, alongside new material created specifically for this project. Leibovitz traveled across the U.S., capturing images in juke joints and at iconic locations such as Graceland. Notable photographs include B. B. King at Club Ebony in Indianola, Willie Nelson in Texas, Johnny Cash at the Carter Family compound in Virginia, and Aretha Franklin's childhood home in Memphis. The portraits encompass a diverse array of musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, the Reverend Al Green, Bob Dylan, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and many others. Contributions from Patti Smith, Rosanne Cash, Lou Reed, and Beck feature short essays, while Leibovitz provides commentary on the project and biographical sketches of the musicians.