CLEVELAND — B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner and Joni Mitchell are among the rock royalty photographed in the largest archival collection ever donated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the rock hall announced in a news release.l said.
Legendary rock photographer Baron Wolman, who donated the collection of more than 100,000 images, was able to work with rock hall officials to select the art before he died at 83 in November 2020, the rock hall said.
The rock hall has been closed since last November.
It reopened to the public with COVID-19 health and safety precautions in place, and there was free admission to health care workers.
Free admission was also offered on Jan. 18 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Last summer, while working with rock hall officials, Wolman, who was born and raised in Columbus, expressed gratitude that his work will be exhibited in Ohio.
“It gives me comfort and solace, especially now, to know that my life’s work will be protected and shared for years to come,” Wolman said. “I could not have asked for a more perfect home.”
The collection represents decades of Wolman’s work and includes negatives, transparencies, prints, letters, copies of his published books, and magazines with his images on the cover, and other documents, according to the release.
Wolman served as Rolling Stone magazine’s first chief photographer so many of the photos have never been made public, the rock hall said.
Among the photos Wolman selected include Hendrix at the Fillmore West, Grace Slick at Woodstock, Grateful Dead on Ashbury Street and Joni Mitchel in her home in Laurel Canyon.
President & CEO Greg Harris said in the news release the rock hall is honored to be chosen to preserve and exhibit Wolman’s collection
“His collection, an integral part of rock history, captures the passion and energy of rock & roll’s most influential performers and immortalizes them for generations,” Harris said.
The “Iconic: Baron Wolman Images of an Era” exhibit is now on display at the museum.
In addition to the Wolman exhibit, the rock hall will premiere new programming on its YouTube channel, beginning with the exhibit: “It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment.”
The exhibit examines how African-American artists have responded to racism and promoted social justice through music.
New artifacts have been added to the rock hall collection as well, including the Cavaliers rock-themed City Edition uniform, Bruce Springsteen’s surfboard and Maline Moye’s guitar.
The rock hall is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.