Terry Abrahamson has been many things during his storied career - a songwriter whose material has been recorded by artists as diverse as Muddy Waters, Joan Jett, the Chambers Brothers, and Clarence Clemons; a playwright and screenwriter; an advertising copywriter and producer; a concert promoter. The one thing that he didn't try to become was a photographer, but in the long run, that may be what Abrahamson may be remembered for the best.
Like many of us, Abrahamson became enamored of the blues at an early age; in his case, it was the face-to-face experience of watching the great Howlin' Wolf perform, live on a Chicago club stage. As he attended blues shows in his native Chicago more frequently, Abrahamson began carrying his camera with him...first a small Kodak Instamatic with a flashbulb, later a 35mm Minolta SLR, and he took photos...a lot of them.
Along the way, Abrahamson also befriended a number of blues artists that he met; most notably the Boss Bluesman of them all, Muddy Waters. Along with the photographs he took through the years, Abrahamson also has a lifetime of memories, some of which he shares in his recently-published book, In the Belly of the Blues. A short but sharp read with a wealth of rare, previously-unpublished photos, this is a tome well work a spot in your home. The Reverend goes into depth on the book's charms in this review of In the Belly of the Blues.
Photo courtesy Rolling Fork Publishing
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