Bruce Talamon on Photographing the Glory Days of Soul and Funk

In the 1970s and ‘80s, the best photos of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and other African-American singers were by Bruce Talamon. Working for publications like “Soul,” “Jet,” “Ebony,” and record labels, Talamon took images that captured the essence of the singers’ lives both on stage and off. On this segment of Forum, we speak with Talamon about his new book, “Bruce W. Talamon. Soul. R&B. Funk. Photographs 1972-1982.” Like the singers he chronicled, Talamon’s images are iconic. He got to know his subjects in highly personal ways and his photos reflect these moments of insight and inspiration.