Jazz photographer Herman Leonard dies at 87
Herman Leonard
August 17, 2010
Herman Leonard, a celebrated photographer whose iconic images of Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and Frank Sinatra documented one of the most creative eras of jazz from the late 1940’s through the 1960’s, died August 14, 2010 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
Leonard was the official photographer for the Montreal Jazz Festival, where he captured images of countless legends. In June 2010, the festival feted him for his lifetime contribution to jazz.
Leonard started his photography career in 1947 as an apprentice with master portrait photographer, Yousuf Karsh. After one year with Karsh photographing Albert Einstein, Martha Graham and other cultural icons, Karsh encouraged Leonard to break out on his own, telling him “I know you have it in you to be a great photographer. Go out and conquer.” Upon leaving, Karsh imparted the words “Always tell the truth, but in terms of beauty,” a credo which Leonard translated through his photography.
Leonard remained active throughout his life—photographing, printing, and working on exhibition as well as documentary and book projects. Leonard has five publications to his name, including his recently released “The Jazz Image: Seeing Music through Herman Leonard’s Photography,” published by University Press of Mississippi. This book marks the first scholarly book to examine jazz and Leonard’s work published by Grove Atlantic (UK) and Bloomsbury (US). Due to be released in November 2010, the publication contains Leonard’s well known photography as well as many newly discovered images.
Leonard’s photographs have been exhibited worldwide and are in the permanent collections of many major institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution. His body of work is a historical treasure and a stunning document of the evolution of modern jazz.
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