08/06/2026
TBT- In the late 60's-70's black folk attending or performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage were as rare as " hen's teeth " ...
As a young black woke freelance photographer, my opportunities included photographing the grand opening of the Grand Ole Opry in 1974 .
Then president Richard Nixon appeared on the Opry stage to yoyo and promote the " southern strategy "
Assignments/work for black photographers in Nashville was non existent unless one was enough to land a job at one of 2 Nashville newspapers of which only the Tennessean had a couple of black photographers ...
Jack Corn chief photographer of the Tennessean did interview me back in the day, I didn't get or take the job ... I had gotten accustomed to doing everything and probably would not have been a good employee ... He did hire G4 in the 90's ...
I took myself to NYC soliciting work from Agencies and publications ...
Friends had more doubts than I did ...
I knew how " paint " with a camera and had ben taught how to shoot for publications ...
I didn't do a lot of music/concert photography, here's a sampling of who and what I snapped ... b
Most country music aficionados will recognize most you see 👀...
Johnny Cash and " Miss Lillan " early 70's , then president Jimmy Carter's mother at Tom T. Hall's home in Nashville for a democratic fundraiser ...
" Mouth of the South " comedian Jerry Clower
Red vest Virginia Senator and former klansman Robert Byrd ...
J.R.Ewing ( Larry Hagman ) and Minnie Pearl
Charlie Pride receiving a bit of fan love on Opry stage in 1975 during Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere's visit to Tennessee before becoming an official member of the Opry and few years later ...
I believe most can identify Waylon and Willie , Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, Webb Pierce, Ronnie Milsap
Enjoy 😉
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