 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Representing the second stamp-image of the exhibit to showcase the work of designer Dean Mitchell (see previous Coltrane image), as well as the second image to be drawn from the Postal Service's 1995 "Jazz Musicians Issue," the accompanying portrait of virtuoso bassist and composer Charles Mingus provides a remarkably intuitive and touching rendering of a pivotal figure from throughout the history of both traditional and avant-garde jazz.
Born in 1922, Charles Mingus began his long musical career as a touring performer with such timeless artists as Louis Armstrong and Lionel Hampton, and would continue both performing and recording throughout the 1950s. Pioneering the avant-garde movement alongside such musical innovators as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and others, the enormous influence of Charles Mingus helped to not only redefine the language of contemporary music, but also to continuously reach-out to younger, emerging artists.
With an extraordinary body of work as both recording artist and composer, Charles Mingus completed his first concert piece at age seventeen, but it would be the 1955 premiere of his work "Revelations," combining classical and jazz idioms, that would affirm his position as one of the foremost composers of his day. In this 1995 stamp portrait, Dean Mitchell's masterful combination of oil, colored pencil, and acrylic beautifully captures the introspective expression of Mingus, and brings a rich depth to this wonderfully touching design.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Also drawn from the Postal Service's 1995 "Jazz Musicians Issue," the
accompanying portrait of beloved American pianist and composer Thelonious Monk was created by
illustrator Thomas Blackshear, whose work has been featured in such leading publications as
"The Saturday Evening Post" and whose numerous, other stamp designs have included a variety of leading figures
from the Postal Service's extensive "Black Heritage Series."
With a rich body of work throughout the field of postage-stamp design, Blackshear's stamp images have been premiered at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, as well as been featured as part of the Postal Service's "Black Heritage Series," "Jazz Musician's Issue," and "Classic Hollywood Movie Series." Included as part of several collectors' plate issues for the "Classic Hollywood Series," Blackshear's limited-edition works have also commemorated numerous, unforgettable scenes from such classic, American films as "The Wizard of Oz" and "Star Wars."
In this timeless image of musical innovator Thelonious Monk, the Postal Service continued its tradition of celebrating indisputable legends from throughout the history of American popular culture. As stamp designers faithfully capture the essence of musical icons such as Monk, Coltrane, Gershwin, Bernstein, Hughes, and the numerous others featured in this exhibition, they not only serve to provide global audiences with some of the farthest-reaching symbols of American diversity, innovation, and shared national heritage possible, but they also forever bring us insightful and expressive works of American portraiture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
As part of the Postal Service's "Legends of American Music Series," and issued as one-of-six stamp designs for the 1999 "Hollywood Composer's Issue," the accompanying image of musical legend Alfred Newman is the fourth design of this exhibition by art director Howard Paine and typographer Tom Mann (Bernstein, Gershwin, Grofé, Newman), and represents a timeless portrayal of one of the most prolific and influential film composers of all time.
Born in 1901, Newman began his prodigious musical career performing as early as age seven, and would eventually go on to study with renowned composers Rubin Goldmark and Arnold Schoenberg, before finally receiving a breakthrough appointment as musical director for the 1920 "George White Scandals" from fellow Goldmark pupil George Gershwin. Following a decade of work in Broadway productions with such musical pioneers as George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Irving Berlin, Newman would then move to Hollywood and embark on a distinguished career as composer and musical director for the legendary Twentieth Century Fox Studios.
Beginning as early as "Sun Valley Serenade" (1941), featuring the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and continuing throughout the 1940s, Alfred Newman and Twentieth Century Fox would bring international audiences the beloved music of Miller ("Orchestra Wives") (1942), Woody Herman ("Wintertime") (1943), Cab Calloway, Lena Horne, and Fats Waller ("Stormy Weather") (1943), and Benny Goodman ("Sweet and Lowdown") (1944), as well as the unforgettable dance performances of the Nicholas Brothers and Bill (Bojangles) Robinson.
At the September 1999 ceremony dedicating the "Hollywood Composer's Issue," featuring not only Alfred Newman but also composers Max Steiner, Dimitri Tiomkin, Bernard Hermann, Franz Waxman, and Erich Korngold, Postal Service Board of Governors member Tirso del Junco stated "the Postal Service is proud to honor six innovative composers whose dramatic musical scores have made a lasting and indelible contribution to the way Americans see and hear motion pictures … using the power of music to help bring films to life, these talented and award-winning composers will live in Americans' hearts forever."
[ back to top ] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
