Face the Music in Pictures: The Jerome Ewing Story, Book 1

By Jerome T. Ewing

Open your mind and take your imagination on a magical journey, a journey where you'll meet and hang out with some of the world's most influential people and with celebrities whom everyone knows and loves. The journey is called "FACE THE MUSIC IN PICTURES," and it's the new book that's sure to leave you speechless. It's the book that'll bring you

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Vine Press
• Release date: May 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958128299

Jerome T. Ewing

The author, Jerome Ewing, born August 24,1957 in Chicago, graduated from high school in Illinois and later moved to Memphis, Tennessee in the late 1970s. He attended undergraduate school at Lemoyne-Owen College, where he studied Photography and Film, while also playing his favorite sport: baseball. His favorite teams, as you can imagine, are the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. His collegiate studies in Photography and in Film sparked his desire in the 1980s to move to Atlanta, Georgia, where he landed just before an explosion of talent rushed into the city and changed Atlanta forever. Thus began Jerome's magical journey through life in Photography, and specifically, through life in Celebrity Photography. This journey is packed with events and with relationships with some of the biggest record labels, among them Motown, MCA, Arista, Mercury, So So Def, Jive, and also with the CBS network. This book is the culmination of the seven years it took the author to unravel what was cluttered in his mind, and it highlights some of the best days, some of the best times and some of the best people the author encountered in his professional life. The book is packed with many memories and with some of the most beautiful pictures you'll ever see in a book. If you want to know what it was like to be backstage at some of the most celebrated concerts, performed by some of the most famous artists of all time, then this book is definitely the book for you."FACE THE MUSIC IN PICTURES" ... THE JEROME EWING STORY. An instant classic.

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Contents

PREFACE

FOREWORD

INTRO: QUARANTINE

JERMAINE DUPRI’S

CAN I LIVE? WEEKEND

MEET AND GREET

T.I., YOU AND I

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1999

HOW IT ALL STARTED

WILL HE OR WILL HE NOT? (Part 1)

MY TOWN, CHI-TOWN

Walking In The Purple Rain!

WILL HE OR WILL HE NOT? (Part 2)

THE SEATTLE SAINT ☼

THE KID FROM COLUMBUS

ATLANTA BECOMES RED HOT!

THE JACK THE RAPPER CONVENTION

From Boyz II Men

1991: YO MTV RAPS! (INVADES ATLANTA)

1991: HOUSE PARTY 2 (MOVIE RELEASE PARTY)

Jerome In D’House

MOST DECENT PROPOSALS

WHAT ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS

THE REAL McCoy (movie snapshot)

LOWER BLACK SOCIETY

AL GREEN: I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU!

Tyson vs. Lewis

THAT’S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT ‘CHA

HARRY BELAFONTE AND THE HUNGER TOUR

JERMAINE DUPRI’S CAN I LIVE? WEEKEND

AFTERWORD

WHAT’S NEXT

PREFACE

This book wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my family. And:

To my wife LULA: Thank you so much for your understanding and for allowing me the freedom to finish this project. Maybe now we can take a few vacations. We’ll see. You’re the best and I love you.

To my kids ROMEY, COURTNEY, Q and KIZZY: I will now have more time to spend with you, and that’s worth a celebration in and of itself.

To my business partner, THE GREAT SHAW: Brother, thank you for being that shoulder I could lean on and for all your wisdom you bring to the table.

My sister (JEANINE) and my baby brother (EDWARD): We have traveled long and far together, and I am so blessed to have y’all in my corner, as we try to carry on MOM’s legacy.

To all my aunts and uncles: Aunt Lenora and Uncle Joe, I love you, and I wish I could visit a little more. So much of your knowledge over the years has been ingrained in me and I use those skills every day.

I will forever be grateful to my friends. Some of my friends have been like family, and the times we spent together are like treasured time. I can see more memorable times ahead. Some of the times I’ve been talking about for years, they’re now coming to the surface and now is our time!

To ANGIE, CARL-YON, TERRI, Cynthia and family: Lives have been changed through actions. Only GOD can explain. But no matter what, I want to make sure that as good things happen to me, I can share it with all those who are a part of my life, because my history is your history, and it’s being written every day. I’m not prefect, but I have always been fair. I hope each one of you gets something out of this book that you didn’t already know.

There are so many people who are no longer here. These angels I think about every day, and that saddens me, but life must go on, as hard as it is. Unfortunately, this list grows longer as life fortunately gets longer. In loving memory, I devote this book: to my mother, Vestine, and to my father Edward Ewing, Sr.; to my brother, Lynell; to my uncle Melton aka Top Cat; to my aunt Kattye and Jurestine Hobson; to Mrs. Doris Marshall; to my aunt, Beather and Edward Battles; to my first wife Terri and to her father, my former father-in-law, Archester Gardner; to my longtime friend Odell Tidwell, and to his brother, the energetic Tyrone Tidwell; to my good friend, Norman Dorsey; to my nephew-in-law, Manny Birdsong, a nice young man with unfulfilled dreams who left this world much too soon; and to many others whom I didn’t have adequate space to mention.

Anyone who has ever helped me along the way, this book is also for you.

Most people hadn’t heard of an Anointed Photographer. Yet, when I was standing there talking to Will Smith, or standing there with a golf club for the first time in my life (with a chance to win a million dollars), and so on and so on, it’s events like those that let me know God is working. I’ve concluded that if God is riding with me every day, then I feel Anointed and I hope that after reading this book, you will too.

There have been many solders in this battle with me over the last 40 years, and I love and respect them all.

Special thanks to Ivor and Felicia Shaw, Kevin Shaw and the CIS Family, to the great John Chase, to all the staff at the BOOKVINE, and to my staff at VEST TV NETWORK Family, Bill in NY, Aamon in Cincinnati and our Atlanta Family. We are moving in the right direction.

To the William Bedford Foundation, and to Lula and Pam LLC: Thanks for all the support you’ve each provided.

To Kevin Temples who heads my writing team.

To my FAME STUDIO family: We are still grinding. Thanks also to the hundreds of clients who’ve allowed me to photograph them over the last 40 years, from Memphis to Atlanta and back to Memphis again. I have your history in my hands.

And last but not least, much love to my Discovering Memphis team: Romey, Candice, Jeff, Drew and Sheba. We rocked for 5 good years!

In closing, I ask this: Enjoy this special book with your friends and family! Know that this book is full of life and that every keystroke was written with God’s direction. Also understand that every thought was approved by the Lord and that this book is just one of many to follow. I hope you find these stories as fantastic as we do and that you enjoy your read. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

FOREWORD

I first met Mr. Ewing around 2012, some ten years ago. He was a photographer, and so was I. A client of mine in Memphis needed some photos done in a studio setting, which I didn’t have at the time. I met Jerome on a referral, since he did have studio space from which I could operate. We had mutual acquaintances, I’d learn. The photo shoot went well; no hiccups, no snafus. Jerome and I spoke off and on after that, and we even did a few gigs together as a tandem on larger assignments.

A few years later, upon release of Jerome’s first book, I became more aware of the depth and expanse of Jerome’s celebrity photography. I’d seen a myriad of celebrity photos in Jerome’s studio, but I didn’t realize until that time the broad, staggering number of celebrities he’d actually photographed. That wasn’t all.

When the idea of writing another book came about in 2021, we then spoke more and more about the seemingly unlimited reach of Jerome’s cameras. It seemed he’d photographed just about everybody who’s famous. You can search near and far, and you can seek here and there, but I doubt you’ll find a greater collection of celebrity photos and videos in one person’s possession. And to think, he had way more content before his prized trailer was stolen.

This latest book on Jerome’s journey is saturated with high-quality photos, fascinating storytelling, rich personal history, and imagery that’s so lucid you’ll swear you’re right there in the middle of the action. It really is a strapped-to-a-rocket kind of experience, eagerly following each page and each adventure and each event and each emotion, as the rocket-ride blasts you into the unparalleled universe of a busy celebrity photographer. This isn’t paparazzi pizza; it’s professional toppings. It’s perhaps unlike anything else you’ll ever read. Other photographers and other videographers have written books, but none has had the hardscrabble background and the spiritual direction and the daring vision that Mr. Ewing has had, all of which combine to reward readers with an extremely rare look into the power of determination and into the force of the undefeatable human spirit.

A bonus to readers is the can’t get this anywhere else foundation of the book, easily observable from the first chapters onward. The highly-detailed, comprehensive, well-narrated passages give you all you need to place you right there in the room, right there in the Pacific Ocean, and right there in front of each famous face. Reading this book is like being a GoPro Camera on top of Jerome’s head, where you’ll see all the developments, you’ll absorb all the bumps and bruises, and you’ll relish in the fruitful finishings of each race. Since GoPro devices weren’t invented during the era this book mainly covers, readers instead can rely - quite dependably - on Jerome’s vast experience and on his elephant-like memory, to take readers where they want to go: Literary Heaven.

This tour-de-force is a remarkable piece of work, and with its spirited collection of colorful, highly-descriptive photos, it’s sure to please even the most discriminating of readers. Photographers will love it, literary critics will love it, music fans will absolutely love it, and the music industry and celebrity bloggers should have a field day praising it too. It’s just that entertaining, just that ambitious, and just that educational (i.e., like the revelation about FedEx inventing the facsimile technology!). By the time you’re finished reading this book, you’ll surely agree that it’s an instant classic, one that’s hard to put down and even harder to forget about. You’ll definitely look at your FedEx delivery guy differently after reading this book. Enjoy it: It’ll probably be the most fun you’ll have reading during this extended pandemic.

The Black Falcon

Professional Photographer, Professional DJ, Author

INTRO: QUARANTINE

Coronavirus. That one word is itself a beginning and an end. For far too many, it’s tragically the end of lives lived long and short, but fortunately for me, coronavirus ushered in a new beginning. How, you might ask? Well, simply, it was coronavirus that forced me underground like many of you - into quarantine, that is. Self-quarantining as I did - not because of an affliction with the virus, and not because of personal contact with anyone who’d been diagnosed with the virus - I quarantined because of my concerns with the U.S. government’s initial handling of coronavirus.

Uncertainty, by April 2020, was the word of the day. Should I mask? Should I not mask? Should I wipe everything down with bleach? Is it airborne? Is it bloodborne? If I get it, will I die? Will it affect certain demographics more than others? Is it worse for my age group, or for the male species in general? Is Dr. Fauchi right or is President Trump right? Is Rochelle Walensky right or is Deborah Birks right? Will a vaccine debut in time to save millions of people? And how long will we have to wear these masks anyway?

Along with these and many other questions, I had one question you probably won’t see coming: With all these coronavirus issues, will people even care about my pictures if the cold winds of fate blow my way? Ahh, those pictures. You see, when I and my family quarantined away from the public, it got me to ruminating about the long, winding, wistful journey I’ve been on all these years. That journey has brought me jubilant joys and poignant pains, worldly exposure and remarkable memories, and along the way, I’ve compiled a treasure trove of entertainment industry history, all on film. Oh yeah, on digital media too.

I became THE photographer to the stars - all kinds of stars - music stars, film stars, TV stars, sports stars, politicians, dancers, singers, musicians, you name it. Before they made it, after they made it, while they were making it, after their comeback, after their next falloff, all of that. I captured it all: I was with Stevie Wonder on the first celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s holiday (with King’s kids, in Atlanta, Georgia, King’s hometown); I was with Michael Jackson when he stopped in Atlanta on his Bad Tour in 1988; I walked into the Mid-South Coliseum with Prince in Memphis in 1985; I was with super-producer Dallas Austin when he received the key to Atlanta in 1991; I was first on the scene as freelance photographer for LaFace Records when the record label first opened in 1989; I was with basketball phenom William Bedford at the 1986 NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

© Jerome Ewing 2022

Chuck Person with former NBA commissioner David Stern. © Jerome Ewing 2022

Photo above: Madison Square Garden, 1986 NBA Draft. © Jerome Ewing 2022

Photo below: Smokey Robinson et. al. © Jerome Ewing 2022

I was with Smokey Robinson in 1987 in Atlanta as he promoted his One Heartbeat comeback album. I was Motown / Polygram’s photographer of choice for up-and-coming acts in the 1980s, especially leading up to the BIG BANG for Motown / Polygram in 1988. (More on that later.) I was constantly in demand, getting calls from every major label, even the independent ones. EVERYBODY! I had to be doing something right. Now before we go back to 1988 and to Motown / Polygram’s BIG BANG, let’s go back to 1999 for what was truly THE PARTY OF THE CENTURY!

At this moment, I should go ahead and mention that many of the themes and occurrences in this book are also mentioned in my previous book, More Than Motown (released in 2014). Make sure to pick that one up also, since it was a precursor to this one. Some might consider the book you’re now reading a reissue of the first book; I’ll just say it’s a step forward in my evolution. Now, on to THE PARTY OF THE CENTURY!

JERMAINE DUPRI’S

CAN I LIVE? WEEKEND

(Party Of The Century)

- PART ONE -

Was it THE PARTY OF THE CENTURY! You damn skippy! At the Atlanta Civic Center, at the Roxey, at the brand-new Phillips Arena (and this was the first major event held there)… The whole city was honoring Jermaine Dupri, boasting events - and hosting events - all over the metropolitan area. It was a party like no other, one that lasted Thursday through Sunday but seemed to go on even when it ended. The constellation of stars! Now that… That was a one-in-a-million assortment like you’ve never seen (er, unless you were there)! To name a few:

Jay-Z Alicia Keys (then unknown)

Usher T.I. (then unknown)

P. Diddy (known then as Puff Daddy) Tamar Braxton

Lisa Left Eye Lopes Nelly (then unknown)

Da Brat Lil’ Bow Wow

LisaRaye Tommy Tiny Debo Lister

Grandmaster Flash DJ Kid Capri

Ja Rule Big Tigger

Joe Torry Daymond John (FUBU founder)

Kool Papa Bell (Ronald Bell) Yolanda Adams

Trin-i-tee 5:7 Mary Mary

Ananda Lewis Silk

112 Jagged Edge

Ginuwine Rocko (then unknown)

DJ Clue AZ Yet

Lil’ Zane Xscape

Ice Cube

Bill Campbell (then-Atlanta mayor)

Isaiah Rider (Atlanta Hawks guard at the time)

LaTavia Roberson (formerly of Destiny’s Child)

LeToya Luckett (formerly of Destiny’s Child)

To say that it was earth-shattering would be the understatement of the decade. In fact, it was THE party of the decade, and indeed the Party Of The Century. You had to be there to know. It definitely set the stage for all other parties to be judged by. Assembled were the best of the old and the best of the new, from the well-known legends to the fresh upstarts who you now know on a first-name basis (i.e., LisaRaye, Ginuwine, etc.). Epic! It closed out the nineties and pulled in the 2000s, fabulously!

LisaRaye. © Jerome Ewing 2022

Even though Prince had that song called 1999, baby, let me tell you, this was THE party of 1999! Living in Atlanta at the time, I saw a sense of pride surging in the area. This weekend set the standard for big-time parties, and to stand up and see a young Black man get the key to the city was fulfilling for me as a Black photographer. It was inspiring for me in the sense that, hey, maybe one day I could get the key to the city!

Dallas Austin gets the key to the city of Atlanta in 1990. © Jerome Ewing 2022

It was so ground-breaking to have that many great artists in one place at one time, to where I’m still trying to comprehend the magnitude of it, 20-plus years later. To add to that… To see a company like So So Def explode on the scene in the way that it did, and to be opening up so many doors not only in the music business - Jermaine Dupri soon ventured into So So Def Sports, etc. - it brought a sense of euphoria to see the city in the spotlight worldwide, to where artists in other countries would now want to come to little old Atlanta. I want to say to Jermaine and to his staff, JOB WELL DONE!

Jermaine Dupri. © Jerome Ewing 2022

The All-Star Weekend encouraged growth in the Black community of Atlanta, bar-none. It also became a father-and-son pride-fest, to see Jermaine and his father on the cover of a local Atlanta magazine afterward. I still have the magazine today because, at the time, I wanted my son to be a photographer.

Michael Mauldin, Jermaine Dupri & staff. © Jerome Ewing 2022

So for me to see Jermaine and his dad working together and collaborating, that was inspiring to me. That helped to make it all real. Good people, good music, good location(s), good ambience. It was all there! You didn’t have to pay for anything: All the food, all the drinks, all the celebrities you could be around, and you didn’t have to pay a penny! It was a mind-blowing experience, for 3 whole days! I could wake up on Saturday morning and say, Hey, there’s gonna be a car show, there’s a celebrity softball game, there’s a club scene, there’s a talent show, there’s a gospel explosion event, etc.

Jermaine Dupri gets the key to the city of Atlanta, Oct. 1999. © Jerome Ewing 2022

Another source of pride was the fact that it was an all-Black affair, using all-Black vendors, all-Black facilities, all-Black products, etc. It was a successful venture for Jermaine’s staff to pull all of that together using all-Black resources. They truly did a spectacular job! The Car Show had all the baddest rides you could think of, the Talent Show winner got a record deal or something like that, and the Main Stage had the girls’ panties wet with Ginuwine and AZ Yet and Silk (of Let me lick you up and down fame). Nothing could top the Can I Live? Weekend!

Photo above: Ginuwine gets freaked on. © Jerome Ewing 2022

Photo below: Silk performs. © Jerome Ewing 2022