Herman Leonard

In the late 1940’s, Herman Leonard’s passion for jazz brought him to the swinging clubs of Broadway, 52nd Street and Harlem. With the camera as his free ticket, he photographed and developed friendships with some of the greats of jazz history including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and many more.

A year’s apprenticeship with Yousuf Karsh provided invaluable experience photographing the likes of Albert Einstein, Harry S. Truman and Clark Gable. In 1956 Leonard was chosen to be Marlon Brando’s personal photographer for an extensive research trip to the Far East. In the late 1950’s Leonard headed for Paris where he worked in fashion and advertising and served as the European photographer for Playboy Magazine.

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC has honored him by housing an entire collection of his personal archives of musical history. President Clinton presented a portfolio of Leonard’s prints as an official gift from the United States government to a fellow musician, The King of Thailand. The jazz photographs of Herman Leonard appear as a companion to the great musicians who created the unique sounds of America’s original art form.

< Previous Next > View Thumbnails

Herman Leonard

It is with great sadness that we have lost our friend and great photographer Herman Leonard. Everyone in the Morrison Hotel family including all of our photographers looked up to Herman. He was one of the best and he will be forever considered one of the best.

Sizes: Color: Black and White Type: Silver Gelatin Edition of:

VIEW FULLSCREEN

For more information call our galleries: SoHo, NYC 212-941-8770, Bowery, NYC 212-677-2253

Featuring Herman Leonard's Work

Herman Leonard In The News

In the Best Possible Light: Herman Leonard's Jazz

Women Rock!

Mixed Bag Volume 1

Some Fun Shots!

Herman Leonard Portfolio

Herman Leonard Article In Vanity Fair On-Line Magazine

The Gift That Keeps Giving!

In the Best Possible Light: Herman Leonard's Jazz

The Chairman of the Board

Morrison Hotel Gallery and Jazz Photography

Herman Leonard Featured In ZOOZOOM Magazine

Herman Leonard show to end at JALC

Morrison Hotel Gallery®

Login

About    Contact Us    Gallery Exhibitions    Bands and People    Genres    MHG Scrapbook    Coming Events    In The News    Time Periods    Favorites    Our Photographers    Site Archive
Morrison Hotel Gallery    SoHo NYC Gallery    SoHo NYC Loft     Bowery NYC Gallery
Search    Subscribe    MY ACCOUNT    MY CART