Category Archives: Music

Beal Street

Posted by Imagery Photography on

In Austin it is six street, in New Orleans it is Bourbon Street, in Chicago it is Rush Street and in Memphis it is Beal Street. This is where you go if you want to hear live Music and in most places it is blues music that you will hear.

Memphis is a famous Music City. Most people think of Nashville when they think of live music which is fine if you like country music. However, Memphis is the birth place of soul. Stax Records was known as Soulsville USA and Sun Records is where Elvis Presley and many others recorded.

In 1956 B.B, King moved from Mississippi to Memphis and founded his own record label, Blues Boys Kingdom, with headquarters at Beale Street in Memphis. He opened his first Blues Club on Beal Street which is still serving live music and Barbecue.

After his death B.B. King’s body was flown to Memphis. A funeral procession went down Beale Street, with a brass band marching in front of the hearse, playing When the Saints Go Marching In. Thousands lined the streets to pay their last respects. His body was then driven down Route 61 to his hometown of Indianola, Mississippi.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Beal Street Memphis

Beal Street Memphis

Beal Street Memphis

Mozart’s Hobbit Hole

Posted by Imagery Photography on

Visiting Mozarts house in Vienna was a wonderful experience. Just knowing you were in exactly the place where he wrote some of the world’s most beautiful music was overwhelming.

I looked out of the windows thinking the view was not much different than the view he saw. This door is the entry to the house. I don’t know if it is the original door but the roundness made me think of Tolkien’s Hobbits.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Mozart’s Hobbit Hole

Mozart Lives!

Posted by Imagery Photography on

Every big city has its street hustlers. In NYC there are the guys selling fake Rolex watches, in Honolulu it’s guys selling cruises and snorkel tours but Vienna has its own breed. Many guys of different appearance in white wigs and costumes selling tickets to Mozart concerts.

Vienna is a city of music and every night at multiple venues there are different concerts of mostly Mozart. Mozart is a really big deal in Vienna where he lived for a period. The hustle is the same but it does seem to be slightly higher class.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Mozart Lives

Stanley Plays The Stanley–Pittsburgh 1976

Posted by Imagery Photography on

I am glad they still have rock shows at The Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. We saw Mark Knoplfer play there a coupld of years ago and it really took me back to some of the great shows they had there a long time ago.

This is from the Stanley Clarke School Days Tour in 1976. He made a great entrance on to the stage and then wowed the audience along with guitarist Ray Gomez Billy Cobham and George Duke.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Stanley Plays The Stanley

Grateful Dead–Civic Arena September 23 1973

Posted by Imagery Photography on

On September 23 1973 I saw the Grateful Dead perform for the first time. They played at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. You can hear the concert here if you attended the show or are just interested.

They were for a long time one of my favorite bands and I have seen them play a number of times in a variety of venues. This first show was special though not only because of the band but because of the venue.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Grateful Dead Pittsburgh Civic Arena

Ray Gomez–Stanley Theater 1976

Posted by Imagery Photography on

By 1976 Stanley Clarke had began to branch out from Return for Ever and perform as a solo act. School Days is regarded as one of his best albums and was recorded in a studio with a large ensemble. The guitarist on the tour was Ray Gomez and he was electrifying in the concert.

This image was taken at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, PA in 1976. The theater is now known as The Benedum Center.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Ray Gomez 1976

http://raygomez.com/

Missing Frank Zappa-Syria Mosque 1974

Posted by Imagery Photography on

I only saw Zappa play once. It was at the Syria Mosque in 1974 with Sal Valquez, Jean Luc Ponty and the Tower of Power Horns. Truly one of the best shows I ever saw. I miss Zappa and still listen to his music and that of his son.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

© Richard Burke 1973-2012

Zappa Jams Pittsburgh

Remembering Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart

Posted by Imagery Photography on

Th first concert I ever photographed was Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. They played at the Syria Mosque on October 15, 1972. Security was a lot loser back then I was able to get back stage and take a series of images from the wings before I got booted.

I miss those days and fondly remember the Captain standing next to me while the band played. He looked over at me and we exchanged nods and then he made his big entrance in that blue cape. It is a fond memory and I still listen to his music. Rock on Captain, we miss you brother.

I have edited this image using a new set of tools and like this version better is has more clarity and contrast.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Captain Beefheart

Have Harp Will Travel

Posted by Imagery Photography on

One of the things I love about traveling in different parts of the world are the variety of street performers.In Prague they have pianos scattered around the city in public places with signs that say play me. In Paris we saw a string quartet. In Germany we saw organ grinders. In San Francisco we saw someone playing the Chapman stick.

Of course guitars, fiddles and singers are common everywhere. However In Puerto Morelos I saw a new one for the first time. We were leaving when we passed this man heading towards the sqaure. Kinda of sorry I didn’t stay around to heard him play.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Have Harp Will Travel

The Goldfinch

Posted by Imagery Photography on

I have always loved Goldfinches. Tiny little flashes of gold traveling at high speeds. Then a number of years ago I heard the Ted Leo song, Golden Finch and found a new reason to love this little bird.

Last year I read the marvelous novel by Donna Tart and now every time I see a goldfinch I think of the book. This little guy was found at The National Aviary in Pittsburgh.

To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.

Gold Finch

The Gold Finch