John Rowlands began his professional career in 1960 at age 13
When, as a fan, he went to a Brenda Lee concert in Ottawa, Canada. He had with him his Dad's camera and 12 very large flash bulbs, the lighting system of the day. He fought his way to the front of the stage and happily shot the whole roll of film. Following the show he knocked on the dressing room door and met the singing star, he not only got her autograph he sat and talked with her until she left the concert hall. Having her address he mailed her the pictures he had taken. Brenda's management was so impressed with the work they asked that he send them the negatives and in return they sent Rowlands a check for $35. An ounce of gold was worth $32 in 1960.
** BTW upon cashing the check Rowlands purchased his first electric guitar. He didn't have an amplifier and he didn't know how to play but it was a start to understanding and having another involvement in the industry he wanted to be a part of.
The Brenda Lee experience led to photography jobs with Sam Cooke, Bobby Vee, Duane Eddy and soon thereafter the 'British Invasion' including acts like Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, The Animals, The Rolling Stones and in 1965 and 1966, The Beatles.
His work was noticed by record companies, management firms, magazines, newspapers and the artists themselves and by the late 60s he was shooting several jobs a week and starting to travel the world with and for these musical icons of the day.
His five decades in the music business has taken him around the world, featured his work on 110 Album/CD covers and allowed him to work with many of the world of Rock & Roll's superstars. Worldwide magazines and trade papers have featured his work from London to Hong Kong, and from highway billboards to point of sale posters, his work has stayed in the public eye to this day.
In 1981 his book SPOTLIGHT HEROES was published by McGraw-Hill
and showed a small collection of his first two decades of stage and industry photography. Currently he is working on several coffee table book concepts in hopes of having a new product in the book stores around the world by 2010, his 50th Anniversary of working in the music industry.
Explaining his absence from the list of well known rock photographers Rowlands confesses that he has always been an industry photographer working behind the scenes for every major record company in the world, leading magazines, radio and television networks and other associated clients. He sustained a day to day involvement that did not allow the huge amount of time necessary for researching his archives. This timing now seems perfect as the music industry has changed, the music has changed and instead of a few talented rock photographers there are now thousands. With the 'Baby Boomers' that followed music through their lives the time is right to present the retrospective projects he is now working on. What the future will bring forth is an edited and catalogued body of work from 2.5 million negatives, slides and digital files that he owns and controls. In most cases these images have never been seen by the public. In other words "new... old" photographs. |
Personal and creative milestones include his time and work with David Bowie, The Beatles, Elvis Presley,
Conway Twitty, Red Skelton, Dick Van Dyke, 4 tours with the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, The Band, Diana Ross, Chet Atkins, James Burton, Les Paul, Slash, Eric Clapton, Lennie Breau, The Guess Who, The Eagles, Anne Murray, KISS, Madonna, Michael Jackson, The Police, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Blondie, Brad Paisley, Badfinger, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Wolfman Jack, Brenda Lee, Rory Gallagher, Susan Jacks, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Christopher Reeve, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Ike and Tina Turner, Bryan Adams, Meatloaf, Heart, Ted Nugent, Cyndi Lauper, Blood Sweat and Tears, Ray Parker Jr., Chris Botti, Al Jarreau, Dolly Parton, Reba McIntyre, Travis Tritt, Big and Rich, Charlie Daniels, Steve Vai, Neil Diamond, The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, B.B. King, Bill Haley, Gene Pitney, B.J. Thomas, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Larry Gatlin, Hank Williams Jr., Jane Fonda, Vincent Price, Patti Quattro, Gene Hackman, Allan Nicholls, Ocean, Sly and the Family Stone, The Dave Clark Five, Lonnie Mack, Charlie Rich, Manhattan Transfer, Brenda Russell, Burton Cummings, Frank Marino, Rex Smith, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Jonny Lang, Lucinda Williams, Emylou Harris, Willie Nelson, The Whites, The Stampeders, Johnny Winter, Steve Miller, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Don Rickles, Bobby Vinton, The Ventures, Ronnie Hawkins, Alvin Lee, Albert Lee, Porter Wagonner, Tiger Woods, Michael Franks, James Taylor, America, Dennis Quaid, Robert Wagoner, The Rippingtons, Bobby Gentry, The Staples Singers, Bobby Vee, Tanya Tucker, Donna Summers, Martha Reeves, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Mott the Hoople, Queen Latifah, Natalie Cole, Howard Shore, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Billy Murray, Harold Ramis, Joe Flaherty, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Paul Anka, Lee Ritenour, Euge Groove, Lou Rawls, The Spinners, Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, Ruth Buzzi, Steve Martin, Lighthouse, Carlos Santana, Steve Tyrell, Howard Keel, George Benson, Lyle Lovett, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Gary Mule Deer, Moody Blues, Jack Benny, Jack Lemmon, Stevie Nicks, The Carpenters, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Olivia Newton-John, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Rick Nelson, Link Wray, Barry Manilow, The Beach Boys, Journey, Cat Stevens, Dr. John, Jerry Reed, Steppenwolf, Kansas, Electric Light Orchestra, Loggins and Messina, Leonard Cohen, John Denver, Mark Bolan, Robert Palmer, Prince, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Pat Boone, Will Donato, and thousands of others too numerous to list here.
People like to say "If you can remember the 60s you probably weren't there." John Rowlands remembers the 60s, he was there, .....and he had his camera.
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