Lurrie Bell

"I don’t walk around claiming to be a big photographer. Mostly, I am just a music, arts and culture writer, and I photograph the people I meet along the way, but I take it seriously. I don’t make money with it. I try to dignify the people I photograph with the respect they deserve. I live in music. I photograph my musician friends. Many are famous, some are infamous and all are wonderful. Because these are my friends and brothers, I get behind the scenes, when we hang together, to laugh, drink and eat together. These are the people when they feel comfortable, with friends. My friends are mostly traditional blues musicians, keeping the African American folk traditions alive. The music has achieved international fame. These are great people to be respected. The real blues people are still struggling, but they stay true to their proud selves, their culture and their history. I am allowed to document. I am honored just to be a documentarian. I have exhibited and published my photographs in newspapers and magazines."