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Tom Wright (left), rock legend Pete Townshend (center), and Center for American History Director Dr. Don Carleton, at the Center’s March 16 reception celebrating the Tom Wright Photograph Collection. Photo by Rick Patrick ©
AUSTIN, TEXAS – April 26, 2007 – The Center for American History honored rock and roll photographer Tom Wright, whose photographic archive is part of the Center’s collections, at a reception on Friday, March 16, at Austin’s Headliner’s Club. Wright’s work spans more than four decades and chronicles the careers of legendary rock groups such as The Who, the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, the Faces, the James Gang, the Thunderbirds, Elvis Costello, The Eagles, and Bob Seeger.
About 150 supporters, family members, and friends gathered to acknowledge Wright’s contribution to rock and roll history. Topping the list of attendees was longtime friend and lead guitarist for The Who, Pete Townsend, who served as co-host and as the featured guest speaker. Joe Walsh (James Gang and the Eagles), Ian McLagan (the Faces), and Mark Andes (Spirit and Firefall) were also on hand to applaud Wright, who continues to move through the inner sanctum of the rock world.
In 1993, the Center for American History at UT became the repository of 120,000 Wright photos and thousands of rock music tape and phonographic recordings. The Collection’s strength is its intimate perspective on the musical performances of many of the icons of the American rock and roll scene. Wright’s photographs are not just candid snapshots of rock and roll legends but revealing portraits of musicians in various stages of their development. Joe Walsh has said that Wright is the Jack Kerouac of rock and roll photography.
Photographs from the Tom Wright Photograph Collection will be featured in an upcoming book, Roadwork – Rock and Roll Turned Inside Out, to be published by the Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group.
For more information about the Tom Wright Collection, contact Ramona Kelly at (512) 495-4696 or visit http://www.cah.utexas.edu.
