Gene Martin - R.I.P.

[Lois Gilbert]

This is from Enid Farber.


I have just returned from a long exhausting day that was supposed to be a celebration (my husband's birthday) but instead was anything but. For those who have not heard yet, my dear friend and colleague Gene Martin, the deemed "celebrity" photographer, (I prefer to refer to him as a Jazz and Music photographer who was an extraordinary portraitist of anything and everything), has passed away suddenly and without warning. I awoke to an email from a stranger and anonymous source announcing that he had died but with very little details. I began making phone calls and eventually joined 3 other photographer colleagues in finding out what had happened. The details are still not all settled but I want to report what I know. Gene, apparently was in Rockville, Long Island, meeting with a client. After the meeting he was most likely headed back to the city where he resided and collapsed on the sidewalk and died immediately from what we are told was an Aneurysm. An autopsy is still pending so this is not conclusive. His mother who is his only surviving relative is on the way here from Arizona. There is no other immediate family and right now, myself, and a few other friends and colleagues shall serve as his extended family. I feel it is incumbent upon myself and a kind of duty and privilege to make sure that Gene's work survives him. For those of us without offspring it is the one thing that provides us with a sense of immortality as there will be no 1 being to carry our names into the future. And honestly we are all driven by a biological need to be remembered and extended. I will submit more as time and information allows. Be well and safe into this holiday and send some good thoughts towards Gene's memory for those who knew him and those who had only heard of him and anyone else with the love of photography. Please visit Gene's work at: http://www.genemartinphotography.com/



With love...
Enid



ENID FARBER Fotography
New York, NY 10036
212-459-8972
www.farberfoto.com
http://www.jazzhouse.org/gallery/
Publication: www.jazziz.com
Stock Rep: www.retna.com

[Lois Gilbert]

Award winning New York based photographer Gene Martin is best known for his conceptual portraiture of celebrities and music personalities for the record company and editorial markets. Gene spent fifteen years as a professional guitar player before switching careers. That prior experience has given Gene an invaluable rapport with music and entertainment people.

Besides photographing the likes of Margaret Thatcher to Bill Cosby to Cyndi Lauper to Les Paul, Gene's colorful portraiture of famous jazz musicians has been much heralded. For JazzTimes Magazine alone he has photographed over 50 covers since 1988. His portraits have appeared in mainstream magazines as well including Time, Newsweek, US, People, U.S. News & World Report, New York Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and many others worldwide as well as over 300 CD covers. In the book, "The Best of Portrait Photography: Tips & Techniques of the Pros" by the former editor of Peterson Photographic, Gene is ranked among the 50 finest portrait photographers in the country.

[John P. Cooper]

[robin bell]

enid and lois, so sorry to read this news. please keep us posted if there is a memorial or if enid needs some help. rip, dear gene.

[Ron Thorne]

Sadly, much of Gene's website appears to be "under construction" or links are "Not Found". I'm hopeful that someone will pass the torch and add many wonderful images to his galleries, among other things.

Gene says that "great photography, much like music and art, is the product of keen senses and skilled execution."

Indeed.

R.I.P., Gene Martin~