Music
Annie Leibovitz 'American Music' Exhibit Opens at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
By Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
May 7, 2004, 14:38

Legendary rock photographer to display previously unseen photographs in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH -- Annie Leibovitz's photographs have become defining icons of Western culture. On May 27, the renowned rock photographer will open a new exhibit of previously unpublished photographs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The exhibit is sponsored by Getty Images.

For more than 30 years, Leibovitz has vividly captured the artists behind the music, and produced many significant images of our modern-day icons. In her latest collection, American Music, Leibovitz exposes an intimate, human side of some of our best-known and undiscovered musicians.

"I started out as a photographer at Rolling Stone more than 25-years-ago," Leibovitz says, "and I wanted to go back to the subject of music with a mature eye. We worked on the American Music project for over four years. We started by photographing the great bluesman R. L. Burnside in the Mississippi Delta, where the roots of American popular music are, and we traveled all over the country. It was a very powerful experience for me - and a privilege, really - to meet these wonderful musicians, many of whom are not well known to a big, popular audience, and to hear them play."

From juke joints to Graceland, Leibovitz traveled through the landscape of blues, gospel, jazz and country. Her travels took her to places and people that have played central roles in our country's musical past and present. Her subjects include the American icons B.B. King, the late Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Etta James and Dolly Parton, as well as Eminem, Dr. Dre and the White Stripes.

The exhibit features over 60 portraits, many of which have never before been shown. The American Music exhibit, which was curated by Experience Music Project (EMP), coincides with the publication of Leibovitz's new book of the same title.

"Annie Leibovitz turned rock and roll photography into an art," said Jim Henke, chief curator of the Rock Hall. "She has created some of the most memorable images of the last three decades, and we are honored to showcase some of her latest work here at the Hall of Fame."

Leibovitz's previous touring exhibits, a 1991 retrospective organized by the International Center of Photography in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art's 1999 Women show, garnered critical acclaim and broke attendance records worldwide. American Music promises to repeat these triumphs.

"Annie Leibovitz is one of the most important photographers of our time," said Deb Trevino, senior vice president of communications for Getty Images. "Getty Images is dedicated to supporting photographers who share our passion for pictures and our commitment to excellence in photography."

American Music, sponsored by Getty Images, debuted at Experience Music Project in Seattle and traveled next to The Hospital in London, England. The exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will open on May 27 and run through September 6, 2004.


About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum exists to educate its visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and significance of rock and roll music. The Museum carries out this mission through its efforts to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret this art form.


The Museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays the Museum is open until 9:00 p.m. Museum admission is $20.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors (60+), $11 for children (9-12), and children under 8 and Museum members are free.


About Getty Images Inc.

Getty Images is the world's leading imagery company, creating and providing the largest and most relevant collection of still and moving images to communication professionals around the globe. From sports and news photography to archival and contemporary imagery, Getty Images' products are found each day in newspapers, magazines, advertising, films, television, books and Web sites. Getty Images' Web site, www.gettyimages.com , is the first place customers turn to search, purchase and download powerful imagery. Seattle-headquartered Getty Images is a global company, and has customers in more than 50 countries.

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