Music Legends of the 50's
UPDATED FEB. 11/2009
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View Gallery Photos
Never seen before photographs of the
50’s…. rock and roll legends and more…. photographed by ROB
ILLINGWORTH in his teen years. These photos are so compelling,
entertaining to view….like the musician is entertaining you through
Robs photography. Some of these spectacular photographs have been
displayed in the most popular, private photographic Gallery in London, England. They where published January 2009 for the very first
time.
STATEMENT BY ROB ILLINGWORTH:
“I have been playing with cameras since I was about 12 years old, and I was 15 in 1955 when rock 'n roll took hold here in Canada. In 1958 Canadian concert audiences generally stayed in their seats. There was very little, if any, security, though I see from one of my pictures that the police were present. We were tolerated with our cameras in the area immediately in front of the stage if we kept low and didn't intrude too much. At the time I was using a Yashica Mat twin lens reflex which I had won in a contest. With a small budget for film I took photos only of the groups I liked, and Buddy Holly and the Crickets was one of those groups. At the time I did my own processing and every roll of film was an experiment and learning experience and I never really knew what I would go home with. My memory of these concerts are now 50 years old but the music and the musicians stand out as vividly as any photograph. The first time I saw Buddy, the Crickets' bass player was using a stand-up bass, and in the middle of the set the bridge fell off the instrument. The musicians laughed and joked on stage, and the music continued without missing a beat. The set was short, and I appear to have taken only three photographs of Buddy and his group in the April 1958 show. By October of '58 I was a real Buddy Holly fan and his popularity was growing daily with his constant touring. An opportunity to see him again and take photos couldn't be missed when he appeared in a nearby city. By this time I wasn't using a flash with my camera so the photos I took that night are quite different than the first set. I have read that this show was Buddy's last appearance in Canada, and that he had just had his guitar stolen and that night he was playing a brand new Fender guitar for the first time in public. I have not verified that information. I remember Buddy sang "Rave On" as an encore, and there has been discussion amongst his fans on about what song he might be playing in some of my pictures, because of the position of the capo on the guitar neck. Again, even with an encore his set was far too brief. One of my favourite Buddy photo is number 003, where he looks directly at the camera as I take the picture. Even after all these years I feel he is still directly engaging the viewer. I made a few prints of some photos shortly after the concert, and put the negatives away with the intention that some day I would make larger prints of them. Fifty years later that's what I'm doing and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I continue to do”.
ROB ILLINGWORTH
PRICES AND ORDER INFORMATION
STATEMENT BY ROB ILLINGWORTH:
“I have been playing with cameras since I was about 12 years old, and I was 15 in 1955 when rock 'n roll took hold here in Canada. In 1958 Canadian concert audiences generally stayed in their seats. There was very little, if any, security, though I see from one of my pictures that the police were present. We were tolerated with our cameras in the area immediately in front of the stage if we kept low and didn't intrude too much. At the time I was using a Yashica Mat twin lens reflex which I had won in a contest. With a small budget for film I took photos only of the groups I liked, and Buddy Holly and the Crickets was one of those groups. At the time I did my own processing and every roll of film was an experiment and learning experience and I never really knew what I would go home with. My memory of these concerts are now 50 years old but the music and the musicians stand out as vividly as any photograph. The first time I saw Buddy, the Crickets' bass player was using a stand-up bass, and in the middle of the set the bridge fell off the instrument. The musicians laughed and joked on stage, and the music continued without missing a beat. The set was short, and I appear to have taken only three photographs of Buddy and his group in the April 1958 show. By October of '58 I was a real Buddy Holly fan and his popularity was growing daily with his constant touring. An opportunity to see him again and take photos couldn't be missed when he appeared in a nearby city. By this time I wasn't using a flash with my camera so the photos I took that night are quite different than the first set. I have read that this show was Buddy's last appearance in Canada, and that he had just had his guitar stolen and that night he was playing a brand new Fender guitar for the first time in public. I have not verified that information. I remember Buddy sang "Rave On" as an encore, and there has been discussion amongst his fans on about what song he might be playing in some of my pictures, because of the position of the capo on the guitar neck. Again, even with an encore his set was far too brief. One of my favourite Buddy photo is number 003, where he looks directly at the camera as I take the picture. Even after all these years I feel he is still directly engaging the viewer. I made a few prints of some photos shortly after the concert, and put the negatives away with the intention that some day I would make larger prints of them. Fifty years later that's what I'm doing and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I continue to do”.
ROB ILLINGWORTHPRICES AND ORDER INFORMATION
PRINT QUALITY
Prints are all done with the latest technology of EPSON archival K3 ultrachrome pigment ink on EPSON ART PAPER with a matte finish, (Intended for framing)
Each print will be hand signed by ROB ILLINGWORTH.
Print sizes indicated are the actual image area, (which may
vary slightly). Because
of variances in computer monitors, there may be slight tone
density differences between the on-screen images you are viewing and
the final print, but you will not be disappointed.