Jim McCrary
August 31, 1939 – April 29, 2012
© Jim McCrary / From jimmccrary.com
Jim McCrary was an award-winning photographer whose portfolio includes some of the most iconic rock album covers in history. Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, McCrary was mostly self-taught by the time he enrolled in a college photography program. In 1967, McCrary was hired by A&M Records where he was their chief photographer. Over the next seven years, he took photographs that ended up on the covers of over 300 albums, many of which are some of the famous in rock history. They include Carole King’s Tapestry, the Carpenters’ Now and Then, and Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen, to name just a few. The list of other artists he captured lasting images of includes Gram Parsons, Cat Stevens, Lee Michaels, Styx, and Billy Preston. In 1974, McCrary opened his own studio in Hollywood where he worked for the better part of the next 20 years. That was followed by a photography supply store. Jim McCrary was 72 when he died of complications from a chronic nervous system disorder on April 29, 2012.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.
Ralph MacDonald was an in-demand percussionist and hit songwriter who could count two of the biggest R&B songs of the ’70s as his own. Growing up in a musical family in Harlem, New York, MacDonald first picked up the steelpan as a youngster. By the time he was 17, he had already played his first big gig at a local Harry Belafonte show. He continued on with Belafonte for the next ten years until parting ways in 1971. MacDonald soon became one of contemporary music’s most in-demand session players, performing on countless R&B, jazz and disco records. The list of those he recorded with includes George Benson, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffett, Carole King, Average White Band, the Brothers Johnson, 
Don Kirshner was a music publisher, producer, songwriter-manager, and television host who rightfully earned the nickname, The Man With The Golden Ear. His music career began during the ’50s when he and his partner, Al Nevins, launched Aldon Music, a publishing company that included such future superstar talent as Neil Diamond, 
Rudy Guess was a talented guitarist, producer, and composer who is perhaps best known as the longtime touring guitarist for Carole King. He also helped produce many of King’s studio recordings. As a composer, Guess’ music has been featured on such television shows as Extreme Makeover, Law & Order, and The Practice. Rudy Guess was 57 when he passed away on December 31, 2010. Cause of death was not immediately released.
