iTunes just sold their ten billionth song, Johnny Cash’s Guess Things Happen That Way. Kind of cool that it’s Johnny Cash, that the title fits, that its got a great jaunty spare 50′s production quality to it, and that it’s out of the current mainstream.

And now, ladies and gentleman, Mr. Johnny Cash:

Guess Things Happen That Way on iTunes.

Hey, I admit it. I Google myself every once in a while. It’s a good way to keep up on how my web site and my blog are being indexed. It’s also a convenient way to find out if photos of mine are appearing online. You never know what you may find…

A few days ago I came across this:

It’s the home page of an Austrian art gallery, Fotoforum West. They are having an exhibit of Miles Davis pictures, highlighting portraits of him along side his paintings and prints. Pretty cool. Even cooler is that that’s my photo as the lead image for the show. Cooler still is that I’m in great company – Annie Leibovitz and Anton Corbijn. You can’t ask for better than that.

The show is getting a lot of press in Austria and I’m even being lumped in with Annie and Anton as a starfotografen. Google translates that as a “star photographer” though it’s more likely a “photographer of celebrities” than the other way around. Not bad for an image of mine which is just over 22 years old.

There’s only one problem… I didn’t know anything about it. No one contacted me and asked me for permission. But what’s odder still is I don’t know how this gallery came up with a print. The photo has been published twice. Once in Rolling Stone (1987) and once in the book, The Art of Miles Davis (1991.)

Miles Davis, Rolling Stone, November 19, 1987.

I’ve never sold or given away a print of the image. So, as much as I am surprised to see the image re-surface, I’m curious to know what path it took. The only method I can think of is that someone copied the photo out of the book. I have begun to see if I can find out. The gallery in Austria has not returned my emails and a gallery in England (the exclusive agent for Davis’ artwork in Europe) knew nothing of the show nor my image.

An interesting side note to this – the portrait was taken within a few months of my having started out on my own. I was freelancing in New York and had fallen in with a publicist whose core group of clients was nightclubs. Davis had a show of his work at the Tunnel.

I remember getting a frantic phone call from the publicist telling me to hightail it over to the Tunnel to photograph Davis for Rolling Stone. Just like in a movie, I could be heard to say, Rolling Stone – this is my break! First problem was that I didn’t own any lights outside of a couple Vivitar flashes. So, I ran over to Lens & Repro, rented a Norman 200B, a stand, and an umbrella, and then cabbed it over to the Tunnel.

I set up my light and waited my turn. I was waiting a long time when I was told, “We don’t need you. Rolling Stone sent their own photographer.” I couldn’t believe it. This was my break, I was not giving it up. I don’t remember who I spoke with but I pleaded my case, pointed out the expense of having rented equipment (something the Rolling Stone photographer did not do), pointed out that I was already set up and ready to go, and asked for a minute or two with Mr. Davis.  They gave me one.

1o to 15 seconds of it was spent photographing.  I got off 6 frames in color slide on one camera, 6 in b&w on another. The remainder of the time was spent getting Davis to move back into position. He kept wandering over and standing directly under the one light. Long story short, the Rolling Stone photographer somehow messed up. His images didn’t come out so Rolling Stone ran mine.

In the end, I can’t say if this was my break (is there ever one?) or that it led directly to other assignments. A few years later, Davis passed away. I was able to see one of his last U.S. concerts. It was an amazing experience made all the more so by having had a few moments with him at the start of my career.

Miles Davis, November, 1987.

Some Christmas cheer. Listen to it more than once at your own risk. If you do it’ll be hard to get this tune out of your head.

Hanukkah post here.

Happy Holidays to all!

Mike Stern, Chris' Jazz Cafe, Philadephia, PA

We caught Mike Stern and his trio at Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philly last night.  Great show. No matter what kind of music you are into, if you get a chance – see Mike and his group.

Late Sunday afternoon found us shooting across 195 to Asbury Park to see the Pretenders at the Stone Pony. First stop though? Tenth Avenue Burritos in Belmar. 195 practically dumps you at their doorstep and you won’t go wrong, trust me.

Then it was on to the Stone Pony. I had never been there to see a show and I have to admit, on a certain level, it just never occurred to me – which in a way was the theme of the evening. We were seeing the Pretenders, a band that is a part of you if you grew up in the seventies or eighties, and had gotten tickets through friends by chance. But, again, I can’t say that it ever hit me to go out of my way to see them. I’m glad we did.

The concert was phenomenal and is one of those times where you’re glad you had the opportunity to see an icon in action. Chrissie sounds amazing. She oozes rock. She is rock. None of which is to downplay the band because as strong as Chrissie is, the current Pretenders lineup is that good as well.

Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, The Stone Pony

Asbury Park, NJ, August 9, 2009

Last night I was searching online, trying to determine if the string buzz on the G string of my acoustic guitar was my poor technique or a sign of something amiss, and as is often the case on the Internet I ended up somewhere unexpected – right at the door of Danny Stanley, Musician and Taxidermist.

The story is by Sun News photojournalist Randall Hill on his blog, Common Chords. The blog is just getting started, there are only four stories on it, but each is a wonderful immersion into those using music to enrich their lives and the lives of those around them.

Update: Randall has some background information on the Stanley video on his personal blog, Zero Comments.

Danny Stanley Video Background Info