Electrifying photographs that capture the spirit of 1970s soul, R&B and funk

He caught his first big break landing a position as a staff photographer at SOUL Newspaper in LA in the early 1970s, just as soul, R&B, and funk were becoming part of the mainstream. He captured the rehearsals and sound checks, recording sessions and costume fittings, the quiet reflective moments and life on the road, and, of course, the wild photo shoots and memorable performances. His photographs define an era famed for its glamour, fabulous fashions, and utter devotion to the groove.

Including close to 300 photographs from 1972 to 1982, the extensive Talamon archives are now presented in a new book for the first time. Whether you’re a diehard soul fan or a thrilled newcomer to the aesthetic magic of the 1970s, the collection exudes the infectious spirit of an exuberant age.

Featuring icons such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Parliament-Funkadelic, Al Green, Gil Scott-Heron, James Brown, Barry White, Rick James, Aretha Franklin, the Jackson Five, Donna Summer and Chaka Khan and many others; there are also several stops at the legendary Soul Train studios. Talamon documented a visual period in black music that lasted way past the midnight hour and will never come again.

This release, Bruce W. Talamon Soul, R&B and Funk, published by Taschen, is an affordable, compact version of the Art Edition, limited to 500 copies and featuring a portfolio of four prints signed by Bruce W. Talamon.