This weekend, April 15-16, 9th St. Studio will serve as a gallery to show off the photography of Carl Dunn. Mr. Dunn has gained access to up and close, intimate moments with some of the world’s greatest rock legends. We are talking about Jethro Tull, Bob Dylan, and even Jimi Hendrix. It is safe to say that no other individual has amassed a collection of images through rock and roll history that could compare to the collection that will be on display this weekend at 920 9th Street downtown. These historic moments in time were captured on film, one frame at a time, and developed in dark rooms, 
not digital bursts to pick through. I have had the privilege to look through Carl’s book as well as some of the images that will be on display and I can honestly say that if you are a fan of rock & roll you absolutely need to stop by and soak in this historic collection of original photographs. From close ups of Jimi Hendrix to intimate images of Robert Plant in his hotel room, these are moments in time that very few people have ever seen.
The showing will be Saturday from 3pm until midnight for only $5. This admission charge gets you a live musical performance by Dogwaltz from 7-9pm as well as complimentary beer from Sidecar Brewery. There will be a Q&A session with the artist, Mr. Dunn, and you will get to see images of the biggest iconic acts in history.
The main event is Saturday, but if you can’t make it there will be an open showing Sunday at no charge. You won’t get the music, artist interaction, or free beer, but you can still bring your own beverage and enjoy the displayed, enlarged photographs.
Thanks to Rhea Chastain for info and images as well as Stephen Taylor, Becky Raeke, & Linda Deason at 9th St. Studios for access to this intimate project.
-David F.
The following excerpt is from from Carl Dunn’s website: www.rockandrollgallery.com
Carl Dunn was the preeminent rock photographer in Texas in the early and mid 1970s, and his ability to gain intimate access to the stars of the day helped Carl capture a visual side of his subjects not often seen elsewhere.
Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, George Harrison and Bad Company are but some of the artists Carl has shot in concert, backstage, studio and candid situations.
As a kid, Carl took his first steps towards his photography future when he was busted for taking pictures at a show without a pass.
“I sneaked my mother’s Polaroid camera out one time, when I saw the Rolling Stones in Dallas in 1965,” he remembers. “I took 2 or 3 pictures, and the police grabbed me and escorted me out of the building. That was my first foray into photography. It was just a way to document something I really enjoyed, and that was music”. Carl soon got himself some better camera equipment, he learned how to get photo passes from the record companies, and his career was well underway.
“I had the good fortune of becoming acquainted with a Texas concert promoter who turned out to be one of the big promoters in the country, Concerts West,” recalls Carl.
“They were very good to me, and that’s when I quit paying for tickets and started getting backstage passes. Through that I was able to link up with other promoters, and that allowed me access that was otherwise impossible to gain”.
Carl’s work could be seen in all of the Texas newspapers of the day, as well as many National and International magazines, like London’s NME and Sounds. He was also commissioned to create album sleeves for such groups as ELP and Humble Pie.
“I shot pictures of basically everybody from Sammy Davis, Jr., to Elvis Presley, everybody who came through town for any reason. After I reached a certain point, I was familiar to all the record people in town, so if there was any kind of party going on any where, then I was always invited to come and shoot snapshots of people hobnobbing with these characters”.
“I didn’t have to do it to make money, I did it because I loved it,” says Carl. “And in the course of doing that I amassed a catalog of probably 40 or 50 thousand black and white negatives and transparencies.
