Collection: Jim Marchese

With a degree in photography from Fashion Institute of Technology, New York born Jim Marchese’s images were initially inspired by the French impressionists, both in their soft light and poetic feel. New York Magazine hired Jim to do a portrait, which led to many other projects, including work for Saks Fifth Avenue, Life, Fortune, Discover, Scientific American and Rolling Stone, and advertising projects for American Express, Federal Express, Kodak, Lenox China, Nikon, and a multi-award winning campaign for The Wall Street Journal.

In 1981, Jim bought an old ’60s Telecaster, then coincidentally got a call a short time later from Bruce Springsteen’s road manager, who asked him to get on a plane the next day to Europe, because he told Jim, “You’re the only photographer I know who can keep up with Bruce.” This was the European leg of The River tour, where Jim captured the hidden elements that create the magic of a Springsteen show. Besides the The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set, Jim’s images have appeared in many Bruce projects including the albums Tracks and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – Live 1975-85, and books Bruce Springsteen-Songs, Robert Santelli’s Greetings from E Street, and Dave Marsh’s Bruce Springsteen on Tour 1968-2005.

Bruce Springsteen has licensed Jim’s images for dozens of worldwide tour posters and cover art for live performance downloads, including the first official live show from The River Tour 1981 at Wembley Arena, London. Jim’s limited edition Bruce Springsteen prints have been featured in Morrison Hotel Gallery New York and Los Angeles shows. MHG has long admired Marchese's images which are distinguished by their technicality and unparalleled sense of art and design.

Jim has photographed such diverse subjects as Liberace, President Ford, Gov. Pataki, Gov. Mario Cuomo, Neil Armstrong, Donald Trump, Steve Van Zandt (including being Steve & Maureen’s wedding photographer, with Rev. Little Richard presiding, and Bruce as Best Man), Gary U.S. Bonds, John Mellencamp, dobro player extraordinaire Jerry Douglas, and many others. A proficient guitarist/harmonica player, Jim enjoys writing and performing with his wife Mary Lamont’s band, who has the distinction of being the first American country act to tour Mainland China.