Popsie Randolph

William “Popsie” Randolph (May 15, 1920 – October 1, 1978) was a US photographer of Greek descent. The son of Greek immigrants, Randolph capitalized on his early success in photography of the New York music scene from the 1940s by continuing to photograph many of the music industry's greats but also movie stars, athletes and politicians including Robert F. Kennedy during the release of the "Kennedy Years" recordings.

Photography career

“Popsie” was there for the jump from the studio crafted pop of

Funny Pairings

Another facet of the "Popsie" style and collection was his affinity for odd couples:

• Miles Davis, Jazz Trumpeter, 1953
• Elvis Presley, First album, 1956
• Brill Building, Portraits, 1945–1973

Though Randolph has been attributed for his photographs on Elvis Presley, he did not take the front cover photograph, as this was taken by William V. Robertson of Robertson & Fresch.^[2]

Books about Popsie

Most recently, “Popsie's” work was featured in the highly acclaimed book “Popsie” by Michael Randolph, foreword by Quincy Jones and published by Hal Leonard Corporation. Additionally, “Popsie” photos and books are on exhibit at Chartwell Booksellers, 55 East 52nd Street, NYC; the Smithsonian - National Museum of American History Washington, D.C.; the Grammy Museum Live in Los Angeles; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland; the Brooklyn Museum (Fall 2009); and the White House has repeatedly requested and been provided prints from his voluminous collection.

References