- December 26, 2008
- 6
Only Photo Agency In The World To Paparazzi All Four Beatles!!
Wholly shit! We were just sitting here thinking that we are the only photo agency in the world who personally paparazzied all four Beatles! If we are are incorrect in that statement, please forgive us, but our gut tells that it is accurate.
Our first Beatle was Paul McCartney at a party for Rod Stewart And The Faces at The Greenhouse restaurant on Wilshire Blvd in 1975. That was the evening that we photographed Bob Dylan for the very first time. I do not think that we slept for a week after that party.
The next Beatle hose down was around 1976 when we got a tip that George Harrison would be at Chasen’s. Sure enough the tip paid off and we were able to knock off a few black and white frames and some color slides too. It was all about film back then and two cameras.
The jackpot was in 1977 when someone tipped us off that John Lennon was in town and that they were holding a table for him at The Roxy. Oh yeah, we had The Roxy wired with all of the tips. You see our dear friend Michelle Meyer worked at the box office and we would get these tip offs at least twice a week. Anyways, we almost peed in our pants when we saw John Lennon and Ringo Starr arriving and we were the only photographers around!! Incredible how 30 plus years later you still remember these incredible moments. We will never forget these moments ever!
I photographed 3 Beatles and julian and sean lennon and yoko, does that count??? DK
Hope!
A photog. friend of mine Vinnie Zuffante who worked for Star File agency in NY(& who passed away a couple years go) was well known for photographing each of The Beatles from the 70’s onwards. His photos have appeared in books about the group and each solo member. He has photos of them in NY and L.A. And John and Paul knew him by name. Vinnie lived in NY until the 90’s when he moved out to L.A. He got Bob Gruen to join Star File.
So both you and Star File should be proud that someone on each of your staffs photographed all The Beatles.
Here is a story someone wrote who saw one of Vinnie’s photo albums at a flea market in Iowa.
As I walked around the table, I noticed a photo album. Nothing too fancy. Looked more like an old scrapbook, or family photo album that mom, or grandma would throw together for a keep sake. However, as I looked at this photoalbum. My mouth nearly dropped. As, I seen snapshots mind you. Of John Lennon outside of the Dakota. I called the man behind the counter over. And, asked him how he got these pictures.
He told me, that him and his wife were good friends of the photographer. And, he sold them these pictures at a discounted rate. He told me the photographers name was Vinnie Zuffante. And, he was a New York based photographer. That, had photographed The Beatles through out their entire careers. He also had shots of Kurt Cobain, Madonna, Mick Jagger, and countless other artists in this book. Although, John Paul George, and Ringo dominated the photo album (As it should be LOL) At that time I made decent money. And, I was prepared to own these. I figured these shots would cost in the realm of about $30 a solo shot, and maybe $100 for a Beatle shot.(There was concert shots of The Beatles as well as all of their solo stuff that the photographer photographed.) I nervously asked the man if these pictures were for sale. And, for how much. Now, comes the REAL amazing part of the story. Not only did he tell me they were for sale. He told me that it was $5 per picture. And, that included the unpublished Beatle concert shots as well. Now, the bulk of my money was budgeted for food per day. Guess what i didn’t do for the next 2 days. Or I should say. I didn’t eat well those next 2 days. Was it worth it? Hell Yes!!!!!
I spent somewhere around $60. It was hard. VERY hard to choose. I had my pic. Vinnie had photographed stuff like James Taylor with John Lennon, And Paul McCartney signing with Apple Records. As well as Poloroid test shots of some. Vinnie even had a shot of John Lennon with Sean inside the Dakota. And, all of the pictures were copyrighted, and stamped on the back with his name, and address.
I have found some other Vinnie shots that were in an auction that shows just what I am talking about. I wish I owned this many of them. But, I cleaned them out of the John Lennon stuff when I was there (John was my favorite. Especially in the last days of his life. Damn Mark David Chapman) And, I also had to buy a Beatle shot.
Other, then the shots I found on an online auction. I am not able to find out much about Vinnie Zuffante. I had lost touch with the original people who sold me the shots, and I have recently found out that Mr Zuffante is no longer with us.
If anyone knows anything about Vinnie Zuffante please feel free to go to my myspace page and leave me a message. I am fascinated with the man. Aparently in his own right. He had a great repuation as a photographer. But, still I cannot find too much on him. If anyone can tell me more about the man himself. I would so much love to hear the stories.
Barb, what is your link to MySpace? I knew Vinnie Zuffante personally & can tell you more about him.
I was friends with Vinnie when he lived in L.A. We hung out at many shows and had quite a night once with George Harrison. He was my friend and he is missed.