Hawaii Surf 66

Henry Diltz is no normal point and shoot photographer. He has had a backstage pass like few others in history and he made good use of it.


Witness some of his shots from the infamous CSNY show in Sand Diego in 1969 with his backstage photos of the band tuning up, or to a simple photo of Bob Dylan on a car hood. Henry's images have captured not only the essence of the artist outside their art, but also the spirit of the time and the preservation of a split second. A celluloid rock of ages so to speak. Diltz is everyman's photographer. He makes them look good even at their worst, and some of these photographs are not only very famous but mind-boggling personality insights of the many artists themselves.

"After three successful years in New York City, Henry Diltz and partners Richard Horowitz and Peter Blachley have opened Morrison Hotel Gallery. The Morrison Hotel Gallery La Jolla is proud to be the exclusive publisher of the legendary photography of Henry Diltz, and to host other prominent photographers who were the visual historians of the last three decades of popular music," said a recent press release.
Photo cortesy of Morrison Hotel

"I'm the drummer, you're the photographer, it's as simple as that." Said Ringo Starr in another press release.

Richard Horowitz, Diltz's partner, has a rich musical history in Southern California as well. He was the founder for the very successful Off The Record in 1978, which was San Diego's largest independent record store for 25 years. We asked him recently want he hoped visitors would come away with (besides a photo) after they viewed the gallery.

"I want people to experience emotion," said Horowitz. "The same emotion they felt when they bought the Crosby, Stills & Nash album and listened to it for the first time. I want them to feel great about being in the gallery."

"I've known Henry for about 5 years." Richard explained his relationship with photographer Diltz. "We had a mutual acquaintance in New York who put us together when she found out that Henry was interested in touring his work. I had experience with that, because I had worked with the John Lennon estate for the past 15 years, producing a tour of Lennon's artwork."

"Peter Blachley," Horowitz continued, "is a partner in the gallery. Peter and Henry go back about 20 years or so. They met while Peter was working for Capitol Records, and have been close friends ever since. Richard's effervescent smile is infectious and is the second thing you see when entering the Morrison Hotel Gallery in La Jolla. The first thing you notice upon entering are the familiar faces of the greats of rock n' roll just hanging around on the walls waiting for you to come in and talk with them.


The stories these photos tell, from the first release of the news about Paul and Linda McCartney, to the explosive performance of the Who at Woodstock. There are many of the Doors, America, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Springsteen is there, Santana, Linda Ronstadt, Emmy Lou Harris, and Maria Muldaur. The photos are tack sharp, technically perfect, and candidly portrayed as though you were allowed to be with these famous folks at that exact moment. From Arlo Guthrie on stage, Keith Richards with a whisky bottle, to the Eagles around a campfire in Joshua Tree or Neil Young mugging with his dog and band. Very few photographers have gotten this close or this personal. Anyone that is an aficionado of rock music and history will want to study or even own one of these gems.

The list of people Diltz has been associated with and photographed goes on like a who's who in rock history. Zappa, James Taylor, Rod Stewart, Joe Walsh, Mama Cass, Chuck Berry, The Byrd's, Booker T. and the MG's, Clapton, Credence Clearwater Revival. And the list goes on and on.