Life in music reflected by photos
Date: 12/16/2010
Dec. 15, 2010By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
CHICOPEE — The exhibit on display on the first floor of City Hall is almost a "Who's Who" in contemporary American music. There are images of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Alison Krause, Doc Watson and B.B. King, among many others.
The photos are of the work of Chicopee resident Craig Harris. Harris is a musician and music teacher who has also been interviewing and photographing musicians for years. Reminder Publications has published a number of Harris' interviews.
Interviewing Harris is easy. He's a person who clearly loves what he does. "Passion" is a word that he uses often to describe his motivation to be creative.
"Whatever it was, it struck me at a very early age with passion," Harris said of his artistic drive.
For Harris, appreciating music wasn't enough — he has 70,000 albums in his collection. He said a book he recently read confirmed what he always thought: the more music he listens to, the better musician he becomes.
He became an accomplished percussionist, but performing music wasn't enough.
He was a music educator for 26 years and is now retired from public schools, but he is still teaching music. His "Drum Away the Blues," allows both children and adults to learn how playing the drums can relieve stress and promote cooperation within a group.
Harris came late to photography. He has written since 1971 and although he had a camera as a child, he was more interested in the written word and in music.
It was until the early 1980s when WBGH purchased some photos of a concert he took in Boston that photography became part of his creative mix.
The photos on the walls represent "a tip of what I've shot," he said. He wanted to pick iconic performers and images for the exhibit.
Harris recalled when looking at a 1990 photo of jazz legend Miles Davis that, while he was watching Davis walk across the stage at a music festival, Davis was "cool to the nth degree."
He is presently collaborating on a book about Davis.
Near to Davis is a photo of actress Raquel Welch and seminal rocker Little Richard. Harris said the shot was taken at an AIDS fundraiser in Boston in the late 1980s. He recalled that Welch told Richard, "I always wanted to be Little Richard," and Richard replied, "I always wanted to be you, baby!"
On the opposite wall is an image of Bill Cosby, not in the role of a comedian or actor, but as a musician at the 2005 JVC Jazz Festival in Newport, RI. Harris explained that Cosby was drumming with an all-star big band.
The portraits of two performers with ties to Western Massachusetts are also on display: Taj Mahal and Arlo Guthrie.
A photo of Ray Charles is hung nearby. Charles is in a sequined tuxedo learning over his piano.
"I've photographed him many, many times," Harris said.
Folk performer and social activist Pete Seeger is also seen and Harris recalled interviewing Seeger for three hours.
Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett's images are also included in the exhibit.
A 1989 photo teams two of the most iconic rockers in the history of the genre: Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Harris' work isn't confined to musicians. He has a several photos of animals and colorful still lives as well.
The photos are available for purchase and the exhibit will be on display through the end of the month.
Harris is currently concentrating on his "Drum Away The Blues" classes, which have received accolades from fellow educators.
For more information, contact Harris at
craigharris music@gmail.com.
