The Photography of Benny Joseph: The Early Years of Rhythm & Blues

organized by Documentary Arts, Inc.

About

Documentary Arts presents the first exhibition of the work of photographer Benny Joseph. Dr. Alan Govenar curated the exhibition and reviewed approximately ten thousand negatives that span more than forty years of work. When Govenar met Joseph in 1983 he had already closed his studio at 2305 Blodgett Street in Houston and was retired. There were no vintage prints, but his negatives were filed in storage. The prints in this exhibition were made by Ron Evans, who worked with Goveanr and Joseph to generate Silver Gelatin prints which reflect the original intent of the photographer.

Benny Joseph's interest in photography began in 1940 at age sixteen while he was a high school student in Houston. When he was discharged from the Army in 1945 and returned to his home in Texas, he enrolled in a two year program at Teal's School of Photography. A.C. Teal was a prominent black portrait photographer who prepared his students for careers in commercial photography. Like his contemporaries, Joseph recalls that he had to 'do it all' to make a living as a photographer -- portraits, snapshots, news, advertising, churches, parades, politicians, social groups, dances, and musicians. The mainistay of Joseph's business throughout his career was studio portraiture, although he also worked for the NAACP, KCOH radio, the Buffalo Booking Agency, and Duke-Peacock Records, one of the first and most successful black-owned recording companies in the United States.

The photographs in this exhibition were made by Benny Joseph with a Speedgraphic camera and focus on the early years of rhythm and blues music in Houston. Featured are photographs of some of the most noted performers of the day, such as BB King, Junior Parker, Della Reese, Mahalia Jackson, Albert Collins, Joe Hinton, and Little Frankie Lee. In addition there are photographs of street scenes and the everyday life and community of the musicians and their audience, including KCOH radio broadcasts, record promotions, teen hops, and dances in the legendary ballrooms of the 1950s and 1960s.

The significance of the exhibition is far-reaching and addresses issues relevant to the study of photography, art history, folklore, music and African-American life and culture.

The Photography of Benny Joseph has exhibited at the Tyler Museum of Art; the Barker Texas History Center; the Carver Museum; University Museums, University of Mississippi; The Gallery, Hughes-Trigg Student Center and the African American Heritage Museum of Houston.