A man and his Leica

The Sanctuary acknowledges with great respect the passing of photographer Jim Marshall, whose images took us behind the stage, into the living spaces and along the side streets to show glimpses of famous musicians we otherwise never would have seen.

Many of Marshall's photos have become famous images pressed onto T-shirts and posters: Johnny Cash flipping the bird at San Quentin, Janis Joplin curled up on a couch with a bottle of Southern Comfort, and Bob Dylan following a rolling car tire down the deserted streets of New York City. (The Cash image appeared here on SSS late last year.)

It's quite possible that Marshall, with the publicity generated by his passing, will become more famous in death than in life. He certainly didn't seem interested in fame or notoriety, once telling a reporter: "When you see one of my photos of, say, Merle Haggard, I want you to think, 'What a great shot of Merle Haggard,' not 'What a great Jim Marshall photograph.' "

Which is why many people, after the mention of Jim Marshall's name, might first think of the former Minnesota Vikings iron man.

Marshall, the man behind the Leica, was found dead this week in a New York hotel room of an undisclosed cause. He was 74.