Terry Cryer

Terry Cryer (24 June 1934 – 15 January 2017) was a British jazz and blues photographer. Described by Mojo as "The Dean of UK jazz and blues photographers", Cryer is best known for portraits of some of the genre's most renowned performers.

Early career Cryer was born in Leeds, United Kingdom, to Richard and Florence Cryer and grew up in an impoverished household, which his mother left when he was a year old; at the same age he fell down some stairs, fracturing his skull and contracting spinal meningitis.

London, 1957 In 1957, Cryer relocated to London, living on Lisle Street opposite trumpeter and band leader Mick Mulligan. Cryer also married his first wife Ann Dear in 1957 while on tour with Chris Barber's Jazz Band. It was on his second trip that he and his travelling companion were deported from Russia across the Polish border at Brest Litovsk. Cryer also produced candid portraits of personalities outside the jazz world. The photographed include Steve McQueen, Peter Sellers, Eartha Kitt and Paul McCartney. His portrait of Muddy Waters is image used on Mississippi Blues Trail to mark Water's Cabin at Clarksdale

Past exhibitions

1984 – Impressions Gallery, York

1990 – Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds Festival

1993 – Special Photographer's Gallery, London

1995 – Salts Mill, Saltaire

1996 – Groucho Club, London

1997 – Focal Point Gallery, Nottingham

1998 – "Art in Yorkshire", Dean Clough

1998 – Brahms Advertising Agency Gallery

1999 – Burnley Blues Festival

2003 – National Museum of Photography, Bradford

2003 – Harvey Nichols, Leeds

2008 – Leeds University School of Music

2008 – "Love You All Madly", Smokestack, Leeds – curated by RedHouse Originals

2008 – "Love You All Madly", 3345 Parr Street, Liverpool – curated by RedHouse Originals

2008–09 – "Blues Anthology", Proud Gallery, London

2010 – "Music to My Eyes", 108 Fine Art, Harrogate – curated by RedHouse Originals

2010 – "The Mr Nice Project", RedHouse Originals, Harrogate

2011 – "Now & Then: Terry Cryer & Richard Fischer”, RedHouse Originals, Harrogate

2011 – “Fleet Street Hooligan”, RedHouse Originals, Harrogate

2011 – "Still Love You All Madly", SCF Hub Gallery, Southport – curated by RedHouse Originals

2011–12 – Harrogate Theatre

2012 – "The Time Is Now", RedHouse Originals, Harrogate

In the collection at Henry Ransom Center, University of Texas

Permanent displays of Dance Photography at Leeds General Infirmary and Northern School of Contemporary Dance

Portraits

Selected Highlights Ella Fitzgerald Muddy Waters Count Basie Louis Armstrong Miles Davis Nat King Cole Big Bill Broonzy Sister Rosetta Tharpe George Lewis Coleman Hawkins Sonny Stitt Clara Ward Paul Gonsalves

Freddie Green Johnny Hodges Joe Newman Eddie Condon Bud Powell Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee Dinah Washington Marie Knight Memphis Slim Jesse Fuller Ottilie Patterson Clara Ward Cozy Cole Phil Seamen

Film, Iconic, Social History etc. Elizabeth Taylor Richard Burton Peter O’Toole Charlton Heston Dustin Hoffman Steve McQueen Kirk Douglas Ava Gardner Judy Garland Dirk Bogarde Yves Saint Laurent Paul McCartney

Linda McCartney Sammy Davis Jr. Peter Sellers Eartha Kitt Vanessa Redgrave Cliff Richard The Shadows Lena Horne Nikita Khrushchev Harold Wilson Margaret Thatcher Howard Marks

Publications