My photographic journey with THE BAND began on Rick’s uncle’s farm outside of Toronto where we went to shoot the “Next of Kin” photo. The next time I photographed them was at Big Pink on Easter Sunday, 1968. The sessions with them continued for the next two years in Woodstock and on the road, taking me to Los Angeles to hang out at Sammy Davis Jr.’s pool house while they recorded their self-titled album, backstage for their debut show in San Francisco, and to The Woodstock Festival.

I was the only photographer who had access to The Band during the period they were making their first two albums (Music from Big Pink and The Band), while living in Woodstock, NY. It was a time of harmony and collaboration for them. Because we were friends, I had the freedom to hang out and take whatever pictures I wanted, from the mundane chores of grocery shopping, to the fun of playing football in the backyard, to the sublime moments of creation in the studio and onstage. You will be transported back to their house above the Ashokan Reservoir and invited to gather on Levon’s bed as they discuss lyrics for who knows, “Rag Mama Rag” or maybe “King Harvest”….

These photographs of Garth, Levon, Richard, Rick, and Robbie are testimony to their camaraderie and love of life which were the seeds from which their music sprung.

The Band Photographs, 1968-1969 Volume 1 features nearly 200 never before seen photographs, documenting the making of this iconic group’s first two albums Music from Big Pink and The Band.