Jim Simpson Photography Retrospective
Jim Simpson has been a part of the Birmingham music scene as a photographer, musician, promoter, and manager, since the 1960s. A retrospective of his photographic work will be held at the Havill & Travis Gallery in Harborne from 13th November.
Many of you may know Jim through his production of the highly respected Birmingham International Jazz Festival or his management of Black Sabbath.
Jim’s photography of the 1960’s was prolific and his collection documents an exciting and creative era of new bands in their formative years.
In the early 1960s, Jim Simpson divided his time between playing trumpet with his band The Locomotive [who later hit with the Ska single “Rudi’s In Love”] and taking photographs of Rock and Roll and blues musicians.
By the end of the decade he had stopped playing, formed Big Bear Records, was managing Black Sabbath and photography had taken a back seat.
Jim’s work includes photography of The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Black Sabbath, Nina Simone, Marianne Faithfull, Ginger Baker to name only a few.
For those interested in music of that era and the local music history of Birmingham this exhibition really should not be missed.
Photograph – Little Richard by Jim Simpson