Sarah Vaughan, NYC, 1950. Photo by Herman Leonard.
By Lucretia Tye Jasmine
The Morrison Hotel Gallery presents an online exhibition of behind the scenes photographs of musicians and rock stars. “Backstage Pass” takes us where so many of us wish we could go, and where many of us would like to be – with the band. The show opened Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
Backstage, on the bus, in the plane and at the hotel, you will get up close and personal with revered music-makers in the safest way possible: online, with 120 photographs on view. Excitingly, a soundtrack to the photographs can be heard with just a click, with music and stories that go with the photos.
Some of my favorite photos show Ray Charles in the most sumptuous red, laughing in front of gold dressing room lights; Jimi Hendrix, playing guitar on a bench by some lockers; Billie Holiday in a glamorous gown about to go onstage; Janis Joplin, putting on her lipstick in a vast bathroom; Labelle, at the private entrance to the venue, smiling; Stevie Nicks at her dressing table, surrounded by mirror and glass reflections; Led Zeppelin aboard their private plane. The impressive array of photographs demonstrates that the gods and goddesses of music might be mortal after all.
Morrison Hotel Gallery’s website also has a tremendous search function. Thousands of images pop up after you type in a band or artist name. Morrison Hotel Gallery also offers Concierge Service for your search requests.
Morrison Hotel Gallery
Sunset Marquis Hotel
1200 Alta Loma Road
Los Angeles, CA 90069
310.881.6025
(more photos after the jump)
John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney, 1964. Photo by Curt Gunther.
David Bowie, sleeping on a train, 1973. Photo by Geoff MacCormack.
