An Exhibition just opened at the Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia featuring photos taken by Bud Smith.
The Jackson 5 performing on their final tour. Stevie Wonder playing at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral. A young Beyoncè performing at an award show in Atlanta. These are just a few examples among photographer Bud Smith’s vast collection of photos of Black musicians on display at the Tubman African American Museum’s “Thrillers!” exhibition which will be open until September 28.
Smith is a renowned photographer who has spent his career capturing pivotal moments in Black history. A native of Atlanta, he has spent his entire career in the city and worked for publications including “The Atlanta Voice,” “The Atlanta World,” “Ebony,” “Jet” and “Life.”
He photographed Coretta Scott King’s funeral, a memorial service for the late Rep. John Lewis at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and Hank Aaron hitting his record-breaking 715th home run. Through all of this, though, some of Smith’s most memorable photos were of the many Black acts that came through Atlanta’s music scene.
In addition to taking photos for newspapers and magazines, Smith worked for several Atlanta PR firms, as well as A&M and Motown Records. This allowed him to get up close and personal with new performers, many of whom went on to become cultural juggernauts.
Smith recalled one such encounter with a 16-year-old Michael Jackson when he came through New Orleans in 1979 as part of the Jackson 5. Jackson was a shy, scrawny boy who spoke so softly Smith had to lean in close to hear him speak.
“As soon as you put a mic in his hand he was a whole different person, as we all found out,” Smith said.
So of course a photo of Michael Jackson is there.
For more information, visit the museum website
Exhibition Dates:
July 19 – September 28, 2024
