Brian Smith obituary | Images

My buddy Brian Smith, who has died aged 82, performed a task within the British blues growth of the Sixties. His images of American artists appeared on album sleeves and magazines, and afterward CDs and field units. He created defining photos of Howlin’ Wolf, T Bone Walker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Chuck Berry and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

While he was nonetheless in school Brian had seen Lonnie Donegan’s skiffle group play as an interval act at a Chris Barber gig on the Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1954. Thereafter he turned an enormous Donegan fan, studying concerning the blues from seeing him carry out on many events.

Using an Ilford Sportsman digital camera to take pictures on the 1962 American Folk Blues competition on the Free Trade Hall (a live performance that Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Jimmy Page travelled as much as see) he photographed T Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee.

During the 60s Brian additionally took pictures of many visiting blues, R&B and rock’n’roll artists, together with Little Richard, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Muddy Waters, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Berry, Carl Perkins and Duane Eddy.

At the Twisted Wheel membership in Manchester he turned the unofficial in-house photographer, and in 1964 he helped to arrange R&B Scene journal. He cultivated promoters and membership homeowners, requesting – upfront – artist interviews and again stage passes. “It saved me a fortune in tickets,” he recalled.

In the late 70s and 80s, US and UK report firms mined the again catalogues of American blues and R&B artists and the vaults of US report firms. Brian equipped pictures to MCA for his or her US reissue programme of Chess recordings. In the UK, labels corresponding to Ace and JSP Records used his pictures for his or her reissues and releases. The 16-disc Berry field set issued by Germany’s Bear Family information in 2014 accommodates about 50 of Brian’s pictures of Berry within the UK.

This was additionally golden period for UK and European blues festivals and excursions by lesser recognized and rediscovered US blues artists. Brian was ever current, festooned with cameras. His guide, Boom Boom, Boom, Boom – American Rhythm & Blues In England 1962–1966, with 176 pages of pictures and tales, was printed early final 12 months.

Born in Prestbury, Cheshire, to Albert, a railway clerk, and his spouse, Irene (nee Jackson), a seamstress, Brian grew up in Wythenshawe, Manchester, and attended Chorlton grammar faculty. He left at 17 and went straight into the Inland Revenue, working for the service from 1960 to 2007, when he retired.

Brian was additionally a key a part of the workforce at Blues & Rhythm journal, which I edit, writing critiques and offering archive pictures. We additionally shared a love of Manchester United.

Brian is survived by his spouse, Shirley (nee Harper), whom he married in 1968, their kids, Gabrielle, Angela, Anthony and Peter, and his sister, Val.