I knew what I had to do. To curate the best photography exhibit of music icons, I needed to approach one of the greatest music photographers of all time, Baron Wolman. I would need to convince him to loan a total stranger thousands of dollars in photographs. I got his email from his website and within a day Baron emailed back wanting to set up a call. I was so nervous. The man had over 20 Rolling Stone covers to his credit, he’d photographed his friend Janis Joplin, he had multiple photo shoots with Jimi Hendrix, he was on stage at Woodstock with Santana and even backstage once with Johnny Cash. Baron was as much a celebrity to me as his subjects and he was calling ME. On ring number three I took a deep breath and said, “Baron, is this really you?” – and that was the start of a special relationship. He happily shipped everything I wanted for the exhibit and we became immediate friends.
Baron came to St. Louis for the opening and gave a presentation to a full house. He loved to work the room, especially the side that had the prettiest girls. What a fun event that was.
My friend and I visited Baron in Santa Fe and got the honor of spending the day going through his contact sheets and looking at many unpublished images. It was amazing.
We kept our conversations going as he started having health issues which eventually became an ALS diagnosis. The pandemic prevented a trip to visit for one last hug, but his amazing assistant, Dianne, shared my messages and packages (just little things to make him smile). His voice had now left him. The man that started a story once saying “So I was walking in London with Jimmy Page…” could no longer take my calls or say a word. Baron’s strength left him. My heart was broken. Not being able to say a goodbye in person was painful, but his quick passing and the end of any suffering was a blessing. He passed away on November 2, 2020. He lived a magical life, living by the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin in the Haight Ashbury during the hippie movement, and he documented it all. He was an amazing story teller until he lost his ability to speak.
Baron’s estate is now in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, his photographs are hanging all over the world and his books are available online, but for me, helping to find a cure in Baron’s name is how I truly want him to live on.
Thank you for any contribution that you are able to make in Baron’s name, and as Baron would often end our emails, “Adios for now, Compadre.”
The funds raised in memory of Baron will support I AM ALS’ programs allowing the organization to expand its advocacy efforts, serve those impacted by ALS through direct support services and transform the drive for ALS treatments and cures.
Last year we raised over $8,000, and had prize winners from 15 states. This year we’ve upped the goal to $10,000!