When I was 14 my family attended a performance of the "Million Dollar Band".
Floyd Cramer at the piano ; Boots Randolph on the sax ; and one of my earliest inspirations...Chet Atkins with his guitar. I had only a rangefinder Kalimar A 35mm camera that my Dad won on a punch board for $6.00.
I had no good angle because I was in a seat and was not allowed to stand or go down front. I had to shoot from where I was at with the 45mm f/3.5 lens and Kodak Plus-X pan ASA 125 film which I processed myself in Microdol-X developer. Oh, I used an AG-1 flashbulb (peanut) in a little flash on top of the camera with the lens wide open.This was the best shot I could get with the damn microphone in the way.A couple of inches out, it would have been perfect.
This is the first time I have shared this photograph with anyone, because I felt it wasn't worthy. But it is the best I took of one of my earliest inspirations in music ( I have played accordion/piano/organ now for 50 years). I wore out one of his 33 1/3 albums on my phonograph, but I have never worn out the memory of that night 46 years ago.
My favorite song was "Glow Worm".
14 responses
-
Robert J Ross said (19 Sep 2008):
It's a keeper! Nice work.
-
John Linton gave props (19 Sep 2008):
A real picker's pic.
-
Jose Rico gave props (19 Sep 2008):
Chet A? awesome! what a killer band! great story
-
Kathleen DesHotel gave props (19 Sep 2008):
History captured!
-
Rob Case gave props (19 Sep 2008):
Wonderful! I'm glad you decided to share this, as well as all your other photographs. The pictures and the stories are invaluable, and so very well done.
-
Jan Hoffman gave props (20 Sep 2008):
Damn good! Love the back-story and I am old enough to truly appreciate this fine photo.
-
elfriede fulda gave props (26 Sep 2008):
Love it...
-
Dom Ioele said (27 Sep 2008):
Sometimes the perfect perspective, lighting, and focus are not the most important components in the capture of a photo. The subject, and more importantly the story, is the soul of this photo. This is a photo that belongs in an archive like the Country Music Hall of Fame, or the Smithsonian. It captures a moment in music history.
-
William Garvey gave props (16 Oct 2008):
What a great shot, and what a awesome memory.
-
Frank Summers said (19 Oct 2008):
WOW!
-
Karen K Smith gave props (28 Oct 2008):
Beyond incredible..and how old where you when you captured this wonderful moment?
-
Karen K Smith gave props (28 Oct 2008):
Oh got caught up in the story..14! Again this is a terrific photo and great text!
-
Regenia Brabham gave props (10 Nov 2008):
A great photograph. I would imagine a collector or Music Hall of fame would give a fortune for it. Love it.
-
James Watson gave props (30 Jun 2009):
Great Shot ! One of my Favorites too.
