On March 21, 2021, Louis Armstrong’s close friend and personal photographer Jack Bradley passed away at the age of 87. Bradley’s monumental Armstrong collection is an integral part of our Archives. We have been drawing heavily upon it for a series of tribute posts to tell the story of Louis and Jack, with many more installments to come.
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 1–The First Encounters
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 2–Webster Hall 1960
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 3–MSG and Newport 1960
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 4–Ellington Session, Scarsdale, and More!
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 5–Freedomland 1961
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 6–60 Years of The Real Ambassadors
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 7–Fan Mail, Queens, Goodyear Film and Newport
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 8–New Jersey Gigs, Madison Square Garden and the “Louis Armstrong Is God Society”
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 9–Pops Visits Bourbon Street
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 10–All Stars Rehearsal at Steinway Hall
“The World’s Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 11–Louis Armstrong Day at the World’s Fair
“The World’s Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 12–Freedomland 1964
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 13–Yale Concert and Mercury Session
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 14–Suzy Cute Commercial Shoot
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 15–Framingham 1965
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 16–Bell Telephone Hour 1965
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 17–The Slivovice Interview
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 18–Steel Pier 1965 Offstage
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 19–Steel Pier 1965 Onstage
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 20–A Man Called Adam and Carnegie Hall 1965
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 21–Iona College Concert and Farewell Billy Kyle
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 22–At Home In Queens July 1966
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 23–“Mardi Gras” With Guy Lombardo
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 24–Jones Beach 1966
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 25–Hempstead Concert and Central Park Press Conference 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 26–All Stars Rehearsal June 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 27–Kraft Music Hall First Rehearsals
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 28–Kraft Music Hall Session and Studio Photos
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 29–Kraft Music Hall Final Rehearsal and Broadcast
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 30–Framingham Motel 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 31–Caesar’s Monticello 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 32–Funny Girl Cast Party and Reno Letter
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 33–“Rare Items,” “What a Wonderful World,” and Corona Anniversary Party 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 34–Brunswick Session and Tonight Show Taping October 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 35–Chicago October 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 36–Roseland Benefit and Brunswick Session
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 37–Italian Sessions December 1967
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 38–Mitch Miller session and Waldorf Christmas Benefit
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 39–Rehearsal for Kapp Session February 1968
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 40–Disney Songs Rehearsal and Session February 1968
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 41–Brunswick Rehearsal and Recording Session March 1968
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 42–Ford Commercial and Tonight Show Appearances
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 43–Latin Quarter Rehearsal and Tonight Show Appearance April 1968
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 44–Backstage at the Latin Quarter April 1968
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 45–Corona Hang and Philadelphia Party June 1968
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 46–Stony Brook and Garden State Arts Center, Plus Louis is Hospitalized 1968-1969
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 47–Riverboat Benefit, Rainbow Grill with Duke Ellington, and USIA Film 1969
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 48–James Bond Session and Letters from Louis, 1969-1970
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 49–Corona Hang and “Louis Armstrong and His Friends” Sessions, Spring 1970
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 50–“Dial M for Music” and “Down Beat” and “Saturday Review” Tributes, June 1970
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 51–70th Birthday Tribute at the Newport Jazz Festival
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 52–“Louis ‘Country and Western’ Armstrong” Sessions August 1970
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 53–“Louis ‘Country and Western’ Armstrong” Central Park Photo Shoot August 1970
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 54–Friendly Fifty Picnic August 1970
“The World’s Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 55–Final Visit June 1971
“The Greatest Photo Taker”: Remembering Jack Bradley Part 56–The Funeral of Louis Armstrong and CBS Tribute
