William Gottlieb (1917 – 2006) was an American photographer who was most known for his dignified depictions of jazz artists that portrayed their personalities in a sensitive, storytelling manner. He became interested in jazz while listening to records a friend brought him when he was bed-ridden with food poisoning. Working for the Washington Post, Downbeat, the Record Changer, Saturday Review and Colliers, Gottlieb documented the New York and Washington jazz scene from 1938 – 1948. Through his collection of more than 1,600 photos of major artists including Billie Holliday, Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington he captured more than an era in his iconic photos.

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