Research Catalog

Title

Sonny Rollins photograph collection.

Author

Rollins, Sonny

Publication

[1948?]-2013.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Abbott, John, 1959-
• Abé, K. (Katsuji)
• Akutagawa, Jin
• Fink, Larry, 1941-2023
• Lulow, Bill
• Matturri, John
• Mephisto
• Rosenbaum, Bob
• Stewart, Charles, 1927-2017
• Thrasher, Bernie

Found In

p1tc Rollins, Sonny Sonny Rollins papers (OCoLC)1049151955

Description

27 boxes (9.9 cubic ft.)

Summary

• The collection primarily depicts activities and events related to the musical career of jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, from the late-1940s to 2013, consisting of portraits of Rollins; views of musical performances; award ceremonies and events; Rollins with colleagues, friends and family; views of tours and foreign travel; portraits of musicians and celebrities; views of domestic settings; and pets. Depictions of Rollins' family are limited; Rollins' personal life before the 1960s is not depicted.
• The Portraits series, 1950s-2010, consists of studio portraits of Rollins, some of which were used for publicity purposes, and photo assignment shots depicting Rollins in various settings including concerts, rehearsal sessions, backstage dressing rooms, at home, and outdoor settings. Of note is Rollins on the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City during a photo shoot for a Japanese magazine (ca. 1980s.); and a series of portraits was used for publicity by Milestone Records (1996-2005) and Teldac Records (1962-1963).
• Some portraits were taken by photographers who had long working relationships with Rollins, notably Katsuji Abé and John Abbott. Other portraits depict Rollins with other musicians and celebrities that include basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, musicians Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach, producer Orrin Keepnews, and club owner Ronnie Scott, among others.
• The Performances series, late-1940s-2011, consists of views and candid shots of Rollins' concerts in the United States, Europe and Japan over the course of his career. Some locations are not identified. Musicians depicted with Rollins include Clifford Brown, Jim Hall, Don Cherry, Jack DeJohnette, Al Foster and Bob Cranshaw, among others. Some performance images appear in the Travel and Tours series.
• The Events and Honors series, 1978-2013, consists of group portraits and views from events that Rollins participated in and gatherings celebrating Rollins' musical career, notably the White House Jazz Festival (1978), the Kennedy Center Honors ceremonies (2011), and the National Medal of Honor presentations (2011).
• The Travel and tours series, 1956-2001, consists of candid shots and views of Rollins during tours and vacations overseas that include Europe, Japan, and, possibly, the Caribbean. Some locations are not identified. Also depicted are traveling companions, other musicians, friends and acquaintances, some performances, music fans, cityscapes, landscapes, interiors of residences and hotel rooms, cats and dogs, and sumo wrestlers. Of note are views of Rollins' visits to Japan to study meditation and yoga (1963-1968).
• The Miscellaneous series consists of portraits of other musicians, celebrities and friends of Rollins; candid shots of Rollins with close friends and family at gatherings; and a group of photocopies of jazz artists with captions provided by Rollins for a 2009 Life.com online article. Among the individuals depicted include jazz musicians John Coltrane, David S. Ware, Ben Webster and Terri Lyne Carrington, and members of the New York Yankees.

Subject

• Rollins, Sonny
• Rollins, Sonny > Travel > 1950-2009
• African American jazz musicians
• Saxophonists > United States
• Jazz musicians > United States
• Concerts > 1950-2019
• Concert tours > Europe
• Concert tours > Japan
• Awards > 2000-2019

Genre/Form

• Portrait photographs – 1950-2019.
• Group portraits – 1940-2019.
• Snapshots – 1960-2009.
• Publicity photographs – 1950-2019.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1940-2009.
• Dye coupler prints – 1960-2009.
• Inkjet prints – 1990-2019.

Note

• Title taken from Sonny Rollins Papers.
• Some photographs bear the photographer's or photography studio's hand stamp on verso; some items bear photographer's signature or inscription on either the recto or verso.
• Some items bear printed captions on recto; some items bear handwritten notations on verso. Some items bear inscriptions from Rollins to friends, or inscriptions from friends and celebrities. Some items are accompanied by correspondence.
• Some items are matted; some items are mounted, including one item on a wooden mount. One item is stretched out on a canvas mount.
• Some items, mostly snapshots, are contained in commercial photo albums; some items are only available as contact sheets, slides or negatives.
• Collection contains work by John Abbott, Katsuji Abé, Chuck Stewart, among others.

Terms of Use (note)

• Some items are restricted; permission of the copyright holder may be required for duplication.

Biography (note)

• Sonny Rollins is a tenor saxophonist and composer born in Harlem in 1930. An important American jazz figure for over seven decades, Rollins has worked in diverse styles of jazz that ranged from bebop and free jazz in his early years to later pop and funk influenced works. He has performed with such jazz notables as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Clifford Brown and Thelonious Monk. Rollins' best known compositions include Airegin, Oleo, and St. Thomas, and he has released such acclaimed albums as "Saxophone Colossus" (1956), "Way Out West" (1957) and "The Bridge" (1962). Rollins continued to record studio albums unitl the 2000s, and performed live until 2012 when he stopped due to respritory illness.

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of the Sonny Rollins Papers.

Call Number

Sc Photo Sonny Rollins Collection

OCLC

1126346119

Author

Rollins, Sonny, collector.

Title

Sonny Rollins photograph collection.

Production

[1948?]-2013.

Type of Content

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Terms Of Use

Some items are restricted; permission of the copyright holder may be required for duplication.

Biography

Sonny Rollins is a tenor saxophonist and composer born in Harlem in 1930. An important American jazz figure for over seven decades, Rollins has worked in diverse styles of jazz that ranged from bebop and free jazz in his early years to later pop and funk influenced works. He has performed with such jazz notables as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Clifford Brown and Thelonious Monk. Rollins' best known compositions include Airegin, Oleo, and St. Thomas, and he has released such acclaimed albums as "Saxophone Colossus" (1956), "Way Out West" (1957) and "The Bridge" (1962). Rollins continued to record studio albums unitl the 2000s, and performed live until 2012 when he stopped due to respritory illness.

Linking Entry

Forms part of the Sonny Rollins Papers.

Local Note

Sc MG 898

Connect to:

NYPL Digital Collections

Added Author

Abbott, John, 1959- , photographer.

Abé, K. (Katsuji), photographer.

Akutagawa, Jin, photographer.

Fink, Larry, 1941-2023, photographer.

Lulow, Bill, photographer.

Matturri, John, photographer.

Mephisto, photographer.

Rosenbaum, Bob, photographer.

Stewart, Charles, 1927-2017, photographer.

Thrasher, Bernie, photographer.

Found In:

p1tc Rollins, Sonny Sonny Rollins papers (OCoLC)1049151955

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Sonny Rollins Collection