1922-2008

Gahr was born in Milwaukee to Russian immigrant parents. He studied economics at the University of Wisconsin and served in WWII. Gahr is cited as one of the pre-eminent photographers of American folk, blues, jazz, and rock musicians of the 1960s and beyond.

He is best known for his photographs of musicians such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, among many others. And Gahr’s book, The Face of Folk Music (Citadel Press, 1968), captured the American folk music scene, including Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Phil Ochs, Odetta, Tom Paxton, and Pete Seeger. Gahr also loved jazz, and we are pleased to exhibit that seldom seen work here.