Claxton was born on October 12, 1927, in Pasadena, California — one of the cradles of West Coast jazz. He began shooting photos early on, but it was during the 1950s that his career truly took off, photographing jazz musicians in their most intimate moments: rehearsals, backstage hangouts, hotel rooms.
With a minimalist and refined eye, Claxton stood out for his black-and-white portraits that seem to breathe music. His work became internationally recognized for immortalizing figures like Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Steve McQueen, and many more.
Claxton didn’t just take photos, he created atmospheres. His images have rhythm, silence, and improvisation. They are visual poetry. His clean, elegant gaze brought a fresh sensibility to jazz photography and defined a visual style that still inspires artists, designers, and photographers today.
His portraits appeared in books, album covers, and major magazines like Life, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. Today, his photos live on in museums, private collections, and digital moodboards from vinyl to Instagram.
He published landmark books such as Jazzlife (1960), one of the most important visual documents of jazz in the U.S., created during a cross-country road trip with writer Joachim Berendt.
William Claxton passed away on October 11, 2008, just one day before his 81st birthday. He died in Los Angeles, surrounded by the images he had shaped into living history. Today, his portraits are studied in photography schools, sought after by collectors, and shared across social media and art galleries worldwide. More than archives, they are visual testaments to music and creative freedom.
MashUp tip: press play on a jazz record while you explore the images.
