R.I.P Ernest C. Withers

[ScoopJohnD]

This happened last week and I think was a bit overlooked but this country and maybe the world lost one the most important chroniclers of history. He was photographer from Memphis who chroncled the civll rights movement, music, the Negro basball leagues and more.

I bought his book chronciling the Memphis music scene for a friend as a gift and naturally thumbed through it and was mesermized. As was my friend who I gave it to (she grew up in Mississippi and knew Memphis and N.O. as well.) But I knew his work was something special when she told me she sat down with her Dad and thumbed through it and he felt the same.

If the trite saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" could be applied to anyone, it would be Ernest C. Withers. Or as David Hinckley wrote in the Daily News up here....."From James Brown on his knees to striking sanitation workers on their feet, Ernest Withers left a record of how his people, and his country, got from there to here."

Here's his obituary.....http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/oct/16/ernest-withers-1922---2007-ernest-withers-dies/

And here are some of his pictures.....http://www.panopt.com/images.php?a=2

[Staxsun]

I didn't post this last week, but I should have. I did post about it on several other forums. I feel lucky to have known Mr. Withers. He was one of the greatest photographers of our lifetime in any genre. His civil rights photography will stop you in your tracks. You would be mesmerized by his baseball photography. His entertainment photos bring the whole scene to life. But the best stuff was his pictures of everyday people. I do hope someone writes a complete biography of Ernest Withers. He led an incredible life and touched many people.

[ShaSha]

Missed this somehow...He was/is definitely one of the Great American Photographers.

Thanks for the links....

[freebo]

Wow.

Never heard of this man, but obviously a real talent at what he did.

Talk about right place right time...

Can you dig some of these shots? Howlin' Wolf with his band IN A COTTON FIELD?!?

See how *young* Aretha and Sam Cooke are?

And what about B.B. wearing short pants on stage? Haven't seen that in a few years... :)

Thank you so much for sharing, Scoop. Worth the trip, for sure.

[Staxsun]

Can you dig some of these shots? Howlin' Wolf with his band IN A COTTON FIELD?!?

I believe that picture was made in HIS cotton field. Many people don't know it, but Chester Burnett was a successful farmer and businessman. He had savvy in lots of areas.

[ShaSha]

Wow.

And what about B.B. wearing short pants on stage? Haven't seen that in a few years... :)



I'd never seen it and found my nose almost pressed to the monitor trying to make out the details of that much thinner face to make sure that it really was BB. ;)

[Staxsun]

I'd never seen it and found my nose almost pressed to the monitor trying to make out the details of that much thinner face to make sure that it really was BB. ;)

If they have another showing of Mr. Withers' works at the Brooks Museum here, you have to come see it. I'm sure they will do it, as they own many of his photographs in their permanent collection.

[ShaSha]

If they have another showing of Mr. Withers' works at the Brooks Museum here, you have to come see it. I'm sure they will do it, as they own many of his photographs in their permanent collection.

Definitely :)

Keep me posted.

[ScoopJohnD]

I didn't post this last week, but I should have. I did post about it on several other forums. I feel lucky to have known Mr. Withers. He was one of the greatest photographers of our lifetime in any genre. His civil rights photography will stop you in your tracks. You would be mesmerized by his baseball photography. His entertainment photos bring the whole scene to life. But the best stuff was his pictures of everyday people. I do hope someone writes a complete biography of Ernest Withers. He led an incredible life and touched many people.

Wow Stax, what an honor to be able to know Mr. Withers. It must have been something to talk to a man who chronicled and lived so much important history.

[Staxsun]

Wow Stax, what an honor to be able to know Mr. Withers. It must have been something to talk to a man who chronicled and lived so much important history.

He was very unassuming and had time for everybody. As I stated on another forum, when I think of Beale Street I think of two people- Ernest Withers and Rufus Thomas. Now both of them are gone.