Little did wertheimer know that this would be the job of his life. He travelled with elvis from new york to memphis by train and produced a series of now famous black. Alfred wertheimers photographs of elvis presley are a national treasure. What we have here are images of the man who fell to earth. He was 26 when he was assigned to photograph the unknown 21yearold singer. He is the author of nearly a dozen books and a contributor to magazines such as rolling stone. In the course of his oneday assignment for rca, wertheimer was struck by the stunningly photogenic performer and felt compelled to continue documenting the everyday moments in elviss life during that crucial year. Alfred wertheimer took some amazing photos of elvis in the early years before. It was elvis presley, a name the 26yearold wertheimer did not. With unimpeded access to the young performer, wertheimer was able to. More recently the smithsonian created a traveling exhibition, elvis at 21, featuring 40 of wertheimers prints. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail. Elvis and the birth of rock and roll alfred wertheimer.
Elvis presleys first single topped the pop charts in 1956. Silver print, the image measuring 16 14x10 78 inches 41. Alfred wertheimer alfred wertheimer, elvis, art edition. Elvis photographer alfred wertheimer dead at 85 hollywood.
This art edition of 125 numbered copies numbered 1125, each signed by alfred wertheimer, comes with a numbered and signed photograph. Photographer alfred wertheimer was a special guest at this years elvis week conversations on elvis. Finally, a book which does proper justice to the exquisite photographic images of the young king of rock n roll captured by alfred wertheimer in 1956. T721 elvis at 21 photographs by alfred wertheimer asset type. He had been in declining health since a bad fall several months ago during a trip to germany for an elvis festival, said his book editor and. Photographer alfred wertheimer was a special guest at this years elvis week. Elvis, steve allen and the basset hound steve allen, and elvis discuss in rehearsal how elvis will sing his song, hound dog, to a basset hound on a pedestal wearing a top hat. Wertheimer, 84, died sunday at his home in new york.
Just a month after he shot elvis recording the dont be cruelhound dog. Wertheimer was 26 when he was assigned to photograph the unknown 21yearold singer. She liked what she read, and she contacted alfred wertheimer to get his opinion. Ein is sad to report that elvis photographer alfred wertheimer passed away earlier today. A tribute to celebrate the new book by alfred wertheimer in march 20 elvis and the birth of rock n roll. It was elvis presley, on the cusp of worldwide fame. Alfred wertheimer 19292014 elvis and the hound dog, hudson theatre, new york city, 1956 gelatin silver print, printed later, signed, titled and dated in pencil on the verso. Wertheimer did a good job with compositions and tried to get as close to elvis as possible. Love this photobook, great images of young elvis made by alfred wertheimer. Wertheimers instincts to tag along with the artist after the assignment and the resulting images provide us today with a candid look at elvis before he exploded onto the scene and. Any elvis fan worth their salt will have seen alfred wertheimers iconic pictures of the king, taken during 1956, but never like this.
Alfred wertheimer, the photographer whose portraits of elvis presley documented the birth of a music legend, has died wertheimer, who was 85, died of. Quite simply this release is an outstanding example of how to present a photojournal. Sep 3, 20 the smithsonian traveling exhibition, elvis at 21, photographs by alfred wertheimer has been all over the country. It was elvis presley, a name the 26yearold wertheimer did not recognize when he trekked down to new york citys studio 50 later to be named the ed sullivan theater to photograph presleys appearance on tommy dorsey and. More recently the smithsonian created a traveling exhibition, elvis at 21, featuring 40 of wertheimer s prints. This book is absolutely brilliant i love the alfred wertheimer black and white. Elvis was unique in that he permitted closeness, not six to eight feet away, which was standard, but right up close, three to four feet away. Alfred wertheimer 19292014 was born in germany, emigrated to america and settled in brooklyn as a young boy. Wertheimer s photographs of elvis are extraordinary and he appears almost ethereal, whether reading a newspaper while waiting for a cab, or washing his hands during one of his. Apr 17, 2012 alfred wertheimer, a young new york photojournalist, was asked by elviss new label, rca victor, to photograph their new artist. He was 26 when he was assigned to photograph the then unknown 21yearold singer alfred wertheimer.
Alfred wertheimers stunning photographs, collected in this book for the first time, show elvis in 1956, at the turning point of his career. Elvis alfred wertheimer pictures elvis 56 the beginning. Oct 25, 2014 alfred wertheimer in 2008, holding one of his most famous shots, a photo of elvis presley kissing a woman backstage. Elvis presley 1956 by alfred wertheimer sad mans tongue. Alfred wertheimer, early photographer of elvis presley. Elvis and the birth of rock and roll image 2 alfred wertheimer. Oct 27, 2014 alfred wertheimer was a photographer whose portraits of elvis presley documented the birth of a music legend. As alfred wertheimer photographed elvis during 1956, and again in 1958, he created classic images that are spontaneous, unrehearsed and completely without artifice.
Allen wanted to avoid the controversy that occurred after elvis swiveled his hips on the milton berle show. Wertheimer described a few of those moments he spent with elvis back in 1956 to the crowd but of course the main topic of discussion was the recent discovery and confirmation of the woman belonging to the famous elvis kiss photograph. Elvis at 21, new york to memphis by alfred wertheimer. Elvis 56 shows us the king before the curtain fell elvis at his most innocent, most vulnerable, most intensely charismatic elvis in the last moments before the man became a legend. These photos were taken by alfred wertheimer and are published in a book, elvis 1956, which was published to mark the occasion of the smithsonians elvis at 21 exhibition. Mar 09, 20 a tribute to celebrate the new book by alfred wertheimer in march 20 elvis and the birth of rock n roll. In 1956, photojournalist alfred wertheimer was hired by rca victor to shoot promotional images of a recently signed 21yearold recording artist presley, and his instincts to tag along with the artist after the assignment resulted in 56 striking images that provide an intimate look at elvis before he exploded onto the scene and became one of the most exciting. This was a rare opportunity to own a collection of images taken of young elvis in 1956 and 1958. Wertheimer was 26 in in 1956 when he was assigned to photograph presley. He traveled with elvis from new york to memphis by train and produced a series of now famous black and white. See more ideas about elvis presley, young elvis and rock and roll.
He is the deity supreme of rock and roll religion as it exists in todays form. There are many fullpage shots and, when even that much space isnt enough, there are a few foldout sections, one of which contains the famous shot of elvis and. Limited to 1,956 numbered copies and signed by alfred wertheimer. This photograph documents elvis in the process of playing hound dog, on the steve allen show, a song which would become a hit and one of elvis most well known songs. Alfred wertheimer, a young new york photojournalist, was asked by elviss new label, rca victor, to photograph their new artist. Elvis shows a lot of emotion in the photographs and they are inspiring. Mar 28, 2010 in 1956, photojournalist alfred wertheimer was hired by rca victor to shoot promotional images of a recently signed 21 yearold recording artist presley, and his instincts to tag along with the artist after the assignment resulted in 56 striking images that provide an intimate look at elvis before he exploded onto the scene and became one of the most exciting performers of all time. Wertheimer photographed elvis recording dont be cruel and hound dog for rca in new. Earbooks editor astrid fischer wanted to use somebody new this time, so she did an internet search and found my article.
Wertheimer s photographs, which first gained national attention after elvis presley died on august 16, 1977, capture the metamorphosis of pop music and the cultural transformation of america. Alfred wertheimer is known for his photographs of the young elvis presley, in 1956 when elvis was only 21 years old. Elvis at 21 limited edition book by alfred wertheimer. Elvis 56 shows us the king before the curtain fell elvis at his most innocent, most vulnerable, most intensely charismatic elvis in the last.
Trailing him like a shadow, wertheimer was given unlimited scope to get up close and personal with elvis. Oct 04, 2010 alfred wertheimer s photographs of elvis presley are a national treasure. He is co curator of the smithsonian institutions exhibition elvis at 21 and is. Photographs of elvis recording hound dog and dont be cruel, reading fan mail, eating alone, staring. Nov 21, 2006 elvis at 21, new york to memphis by adam jusko bc books, nov 21, 2006 in 1956, freelance photographer alfred wertheimer was assigned to photograph a 21yearold singer that rca was promoting. In 1956, at the age of 21, elvis presley was about to become the greatest star in the history of rock n roll. Alfred wertheimer alfred wertheimer, elvis, art edition a. The 1956 photographs from the elvis at 21 exhibition show more than a musician on the rise. Elvis at 21 alfred wertheimer photographer 1956 youtube. In 1956, freelance photographer alfred wertheimer was assigned to photograph a 21yearold singer that rca was promoting. Alfred wertheimer was a photographer whose portraits of elvis presley documented the birth of a music legend. Elvis at 21, photographs by alfred wertheimer will be at the national.
Elvis at 21, as the wertheimer exhibition is called is touring the usa for the next few years. Elvis at 21 is a collection of photographs by alfred wertheimer, who happened to be in the right place at the right time. These are the last images of elvis before his life was changed forever by television, gold records, and films. Alfred wertheimer alfred wertheimer, elvis, art edition b. Photographs by alfred wertheimer, a new smithsonian traveling exhibition, presents 56 of these striking images and opens at the national portrait gallery in washington, d. Oct 22, 2014 alfred wertheimer, the photographer whose portraits of elvis presley documented the birth of a music legend, has died wertheimer, who was 85, died of natural causes sunday at his new york. Elvis presley was just 21 years old in 1956 and on the brink of stardom when alfred wertheimer was asked to follow the artist around and take as many publicity shots as possible. On 1 september 2012, taschen gmbh releases alfred wertheimer, elvis and the birth of rock and roll. New york to memphis insight editions, 2006, and elvis 1956.
Alfred wertheimers last book, elvis at twentyone, contained a foreward by noted elvis biographer peter guralnick. This limited edition of 125 numbered copies numbered 126250, each signed by alfred wertheimer, comes with a numbered and signed photograph. Alfred wertheimer, a young new york photojournalist, was asked by elvis s new label, rca victor, to photograph their new artist. Elvis at 21 alfred wertheimer exhibition 20 an ein. Alfred wertheimer in 2008, holding one of his most famous shots, a photo of elvis presley kissing a woman backstage. Sale 2489 lot 201 alfred wertheimer 19292014 elvis with hound dog.
Alfred wertheimer, famous for photos of elvis presley. Alfred wertheimer in 2008, holding one of his most famous shots. Wertheimers photographs, which first gained national attention after elvis presley died on august 16, 1977, capture the metamorphosis of pop music and the cultural transformation of america. On may 9 at taschen books, early rock followers were offered the opportunity to meet alfred wertheimer, who was personalizing his limited edition book elvis and the birth of rock and roll. Alfred wertheimer elvis 1956 an ein spotlight elvis. See details of how to buy this fabulous book below. Photojournalist alfred wertheimer was hired by rca victor in 1956 to shoot promotional images of a recently signed 21yearold recording artist, elvis presley. Elvis and the birth of rock and roll elvis presley. They are a unique visual record of the most exciting and influential performer of our time.
Photographs of elvis recording hound dog and dont be. He was 26 when he was assigned to photograph the unknown 21 yearold singer. New portrait gallery exhibition shows elvis before he was. Photographs by alfred wertheimer welcome books, 2009. His collection of images of elvis in 1956 are unequalled. Elvis will never be photographed or documented in such a manner in his life time. Elvis and the birth of rock and roll image 1 alfred wertheimer. Love this photo book, great images of young elvis made by alfred wertheimer. In the course of his oneday assignment for rca, wertheimer was struck by the stunningly photogenic performer and felt compelled to continue documenting the everyday moments in elvis s life during that crucial year. The exhibition itself reveals images of a young elvis presley before he became an icon and constant security created walls between him and his fans.
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