William Claxton, 1927–2008

William Claxton by Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

William Claxton died on Saturday of congestive heart failure, one day shy of his 81st birthday, at a hospital near his home in Los Angeles.

He was best known as a jazz photographer, but was a stalwart of the photo community in Los Angeles for many years, photographing movie stars and musicians of all kinds. He did many album covers and published 14 books, including the famous Jazz Life, issued by Taschen in a slipcased 25th Anniversary edition only a few weeks ago (there is also a deluxe edition). He exhibited widely, and his pictures were published in many magazines, including LIFE, Paris Match, and Vogue.

He was a founding member of the Recording Academy, the organization that runs the Grammy Awards.

He also worked as a fashion photographer, most famously photographing designer Rudi Gernreich's "topless swimsuit" in 1964. The model was Peggy Moffit Claxton, to whom the photographer was married for 49 years.

His publisher and friend, Benedikt Taschen, said of Claxton, "he was a great photographer and a wonderful man who touched the lives of his friends through his generosity, charm and kindness."

William Claxton's website

Jon Thurber's L. A. Times obituary

_______________________

Mike (thanks to Tim)

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Featured Comment by Ron W: "Sorry to hear that. He is not the only noteworthy jazz photographer to pass. Michael Smith passed away a few weeks ago. He documented every New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival until health issues forced him to retire, along with Mardi Gras Indians, the Spiritual Churches and so much more. Did not mean to hijack the obit of Mr. Claxton who may be better known, but I would think that many may have seen some of Mr. Smith's work."
 

Comments

[charlie d]

Sadness

[latent_image]

It's been awhile since I've seen a portfolio so compelling that I wanted to absorb every photo. Yes, sadness.

[Ken Tanaka]

Thank you for this notice, Mike and Tim.

Although I was not closely familiar with William Claxton his name was familiar from bylines on photos I've enjoyed over the years. He really was a very talented eye. Just looking through the handful of images presented on the L.A. Times obit reveals the naturalness and comfort that he seemed to be able to evoke from his subjects. That's damn rare today, when everything is a fast-paced, clinical "shoot" more kindred to a movie production than a quiet conversation. I don't think we'll see Claxton's breed of mid-20th century photographers again.

But that begs the question: Which contemporary photographers will be missed most when their time comes in 30+ years?

[Will Sadler]

Mike,

Read this: http://www.madison.com/tct/news/top5/309277 Bob Rashid died on Thursday. I don't know if you knew him, but the article says it all.

Will

[Jim Talkington]

Sad news, Clax is / was one of my all-time favorites, as were many of the musicians he photographed. He had a rare ringside seat to the era of cool jazz and served it well.

[Sean]

I was on my way to bed at midnight when I saw this post on the sad news. I followed the link to Bill's site and spent ninety minutes there. The combination of jazz and fine photography really is a good way to end a day

Bill opened my blurry eyes

[Gerry Morgan]

The Guardian has published some of William Claxton's photos in its October 15th edition. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2008/oct/15/photography-art?picture=338596323