Bobby Klein entered the field of visual arts as a teenager in the early 1960's, when he was co-producing numerous 'dance party' television shows broadcast from Los Angeles. During that time he purchased his first camera and shot pictures around L.A. Thus began his longtime love affair with photography. He put together a book of his photos and made the rounds at the record companies he had visited when he was a personal manager for a number of musicians. With no training as a photographer, he convinced art directors to give him a chance.

Klein became the West Coast photographer for Columbia Records and other smaller labels. He was The Doors' first professional photographer and went on to shoot such music and film figures as Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Dennis Hopper, classical composer Igor Stravinsky, and Steve Martin. Stand-up performance photos of the latter were published by Putnam in a book entitled Cruel Shoes. The volume included words and stories by Martin and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over fourteen months. During this time Klein worked with Mr. Martin, as a producer, on the 1978 Academy Award® nominated short film “The Absent Minded Waiter”. Klein's oft-published images of Stravinsky are the last of the maestro before his death in Venice, Italy, in 1971.

Klein's photographs of Jim Morrison and The Doors are still published in many books about the history of rock 'n' roll. At present Klein is represented by the prestigious Fahey/Klein Gallery of Photography in Los Angeles.

Copyright © Bobby Klein

Related Links

• Bobby Klein Photography
• Fahey/Klein Gallery
• Morrison Hotel Gallery