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Nashville Portraits: Legends of Country Music

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Born in New Jersey, Jim McGuire first heard country singer Hank Snow in 1953. And in the photographer's own words: "Discovering country music changed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined." And I for one am glad. Mr. Mcguire became a photographer while in the U. S. Air Force, photographing troop buildup in Vietnam. After being discharged from the military, he went to New York and came under the influence of the likes of Richard Avedon and Irving Penn (one of the two individuals to whom this book is dedicated) and eventually moved to Nashville in 1972 where he has photographed the musicians for over 500 album covers, some of which you will recognize from this collection of 60 plus images, all in black and white and all save one (the shot of Emmylou Harris) with the subjects posed before a hand-painted canvas background.

Although this collection is subtitled "Legends of Country Music," I would argue that that statement is not entirely correct. For instance, I'm not sure how you can possibly classify Carole King as a country music or bluegrass (expanding the definition) singer. Other artists included come to mind as well although this is certainly a minor quibble. These portraits are all both beautifully lit and printed with many nuances of gray, the mark of a fine black and white photograph; and Mr. McGuire shows tremendous creativity in that no two portraits are similar. Had he shot each artist completely alike, however, that would not make him a bad photographer. One of his influences, Richard Avedon, has published book after book of subjects, for instance, looking straight into the camera in front of a totally white background.

Each of the 60 photographs in this book that came about from a traveling exhibit organized by the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia-- Kevin Grogan, the director of that museum, wrote a Foreward for this collection-- takes up a complete page of the book. On the opposite page are included the year the artist was born and died, if he or she is deceased, the date Mr. McGuire took the photograph and comments about the subject.

Most of the photographs I found most interesting are of my favorite artists with some exceptions. My least favorite photograph of someone I adore is that of Dolly Parton taken in 1974 when she was all of 28. She is chunky and wearing a very bad country wig. Now in her early 60's, today she is much more beautiful and svelte. If he hasn't already done so, Mr. McGuire should give her another chance to sit for him. The collection opens with country legend Ralph Stanley looking humbly regal. The great film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" made him famous outside country music circles. I maintain that you would know immediately that Dave Dudley ("Six Days on the Road") has driven trucks. A wonderful photograph. Tammy Wynette looks so beautiful. Far too soon she left us. It is no wonder that George Jones, one of her several husbands, said, upon hearing her for the first time sing "Apartment #9" that "the roof came off." Speaking of beautiful, the portrait of Emmylou Harris-- an album cover?-- captures her beauty as well although she is even more beautiful today with her silver, white hair. The Country Gentlemen photo is also from another album cover I believe. The photos of Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass, on the front jacket cover and Kris Kristofferson, the Rhodes Scholar and terrific songwriter, on the bad cover, are outstanding. I particularly like the striking image of Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowe. The composition of the shot of John Prine (with his head cropped)is stunning. The photograph taken in 1975 of the serenely smiling Doc Watson is famous and immediately recognized. The most unusual image, from where I sit is that of Johnny Cash and Billy Graham (1978). Enough said. The photograph of J. D. Souther-- one of the five that the photographer added that were not in the traveling exhibit-- might be the best one in the book. My theory of portrait photography is that is takes an artist with genius to make a photograph of someone I do not know interesting to me. The shot of the tattooed Dale Watson (2001), who is someone I had never heard of, invites the viewer into the photo in a wonderful way and meets my requirement. Finally, Travis Rivers should have kept his shirt on. The shot reminds me of the photo that Annie Leibovitz took of a very old, shirtless Robert Penn Warren. The famous writer should just have said no to Leibovitz' entreaties.

As I recall, Mother Maybelle Carter stopped singing about the time Mr. McGuire moved to Nashville so I do not know if he ever had the privilege of photographing this wonderful woman or not. A portriat of her would have been the icing on a very fantastic cake.

NASHVILLE PORTRAITS will delight both lovers of Nashville music and photo enthusiasts as well. A very fine book!

This is a "don't miss" book of the best portraiture of the Legends of Country Music in existence. Long treasured by Musicians for his talent behind the lens, Jim McGuire has put together an inspiring book of beauty as well as memories.

Nashville Portraits: Legends of Country Music This was a gift for my musician/songwriter son and he loved it! Pictures and commentary are outstanding!!!! Based on reaction of Skip Heller (Homegoing, Couch Los Angeles, etc.) I would highly recommend this book.

I missed the opening of Nashville Portraits at Augusta's Morris Museum, but the book is a great substitute. All the portraits are wonderful,and the subjects range from now-forgotten chart-toppers to icons like Ralph Stanley and Tammy Wynette. If you're looking for a good coffee-table book of country music portraits, look no further.