Tom Wilkes

Tom Wilkes (born July 30, 1939 in Long Beach , † June 28, 2009 in Pioneertown near Los Angeles) was an American designer and photographer .

Live and act

Tom Wilkes studied at Long Beach City College at the University of California, Los Angeles , and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in the 1950s and 1960s . He made his first significant performance as art director of the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and also held the same position at the 1971 concert for Bangladesh . However, his significance for music history was primarily as a designer of various record covers , including albums that made music history. He was just as responsible for the cover of the Beatles' Red and Blue album as he was for Neil Young's Harvest . There was also cover work for the Rolling Stones , Janis Joplin and Eric Clapton , as well as the publication of the Concert for Bangladesh .

Among other things, he was a photographer, art director, graphic and logo designer, illustrator and concept developer. Wilkes was not limited to one style; In addition to covers in the field of rock and pop music, he also created many artworks in the field of country and classical music , but also for comedians such as George Carlin and Cheech & Chong . With his ideas, he had a lasting impact on the design of the album cover. Wilkes was awarded a Grammy in 1974 for the cover design for the LP Tommy performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir with Guest Soloists .

He died of a heart attack and had previously suffered from progressive neuromuscular disease. He left a daughter.

Contribution to album covers

• 1967: Flowers : The Rolling Stones (Original Graphics)
• 1967: Present Tense : Sagittarius (Cover Design)
• 1967: Safe as Milk : Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band (graphic design)
• 1968: Beggars Banquet : The Rolling Stones (design, concept for the original design)
• 1968: Carnival of Life : Lee Michaels (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Christmas Album : Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Colors : Claudine Longet (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Family That Plays Together : Spirit (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark : Dillard and Clark (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Fool on the Hill : Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 (Artistic Director)
• 1968: I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite? : Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (Artistic Directors)
• 1968: Love Is Blue : Claudine Longet (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Roger Nichols & the Small Circle of Friends : Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Frie (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Song Cycle : Van Dyke Parks (Illustrations)
• 1968: Spirit : Spirit (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Tape From California : Phil Ochs (Artistic Director)
• 1968: Tarantula : Tarantula (design, photography)
• 1969: Accept No Substitute : The Original Delaney & Bonnie (graphic design)
• 1969: Any Way That You Want Me : Evie Sands (Artistic Director, Photography, Cover Photo)
• 1969: Clear : Spirit (design)
• 1969: Crystal Illusions : Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Dylan's Gospel : The Brothers and Sisters of LA (photography)
• 1969: Gilded Palace of Sin : Flying Burrito Brothers (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Happy Heart : Nick DeCaro & Orchestra (Artistic Director)
• 1969: It's Never Too Late : The Montgomery Brothers (design, photography)
• 1969: Love Is All We Have to Give : The Checkmates Ltd. (Graphic design, photography)
• 1969: Make It Easy on Yourself : Burt Bacharach (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Rehearsals for Retirement : Phil Ochs (Artistic Director, Photography)
• 1969: Robin Wilson : Robin Wilson (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Rock Salt and Nails : Steve Young (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Through the Morning, Through the Night : Dillard and Clark (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Ticket to Ride : Carpenters (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Venus in Cancer : Robbie Basho (design, photography)
• 1969: Ye-Me-Le : Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (Artistic Director)
• 1969: Signs of the Zodiac : Mort Garson (Artistic Director)
• 1970: A Bad Donato : Donato (design, photography)
• 1970: Alone Together : Dave Mason (design, photography)
• 1970: Buddy and the Juniors : Buddy Guy and Junior Wells & Junior Mance (design, photography)
• 1970: Burrito Deluxe : The Flying Burrito Brothers (Artistic Director)
• 1970: Close to You : The Carpenters (Artistic Director)
• 1970: Contribution : Shawn Phillips (Artistic Director)
• 1970: Eric Clapton : Eric Clapton (design, photography)
• 1970: Greatest Hits : Phil Ochs (Artistic Director, Photography, Back Cover)
• 1970: Leon Russell : Leon Russell (design)
• 1970: Mad Dogs & Englishmen : Joe Cocker (design)
• 1970: On Tour with Eric Clapton : Delaney & Bonnie & Friends (design, photography)
• 1970: To Bonnie from Delaney : Delaney & Bonnie (design, photography)
• 1970: Wonderful World Beautiful People : Jimmy Cliff (Artistic Director)
• 1971: Cello Quartet : Roger Kellaway Cello Quartet (design, photography)
• 1971: Concert for Bangladesh : George Harrison (design, photography)
• 1971: John Prine : John Prine (design, photography)
• 1971: Live at Fillmore West : King Curtis (Design)
• 1971: Minnows : Marc Benno (design, photography)
• 1971: Motel Shot : Delaney and Bonnie (photography, jacket design)
• 1971: Off the Shelf : Batdorf & Rodney (design, photography)
• 1971: Pearl : Janis Joplin (design, photography)
• 1971: Someday Man : Paul Williams (design, photography)
• 1971: Stoney End : Barbra Streisand (design, photography)
• 1971: Thirds : The James Gang (Cover Design)
• 1971: Watcha 'Gonna Do? : Denny Doherty (design, photography)
• 1972: Dinnertime : Alex Taylor (design, photography)
• 1972: Dr. John's Gumbo : Dr. John (design, photography)
• 1972: FM & AM : George Carlin (Artistic Director)
• 1972: Harvest : Neil Young (Design)
• 1972: Jo Jo Gunne : Jo Jo Gunne (Design, Cover Photo)
• 1972: Steamin ' : Rastus (Cover Photo)
• 1972: Big Bambu : Cheech and Chong (Jacket / Poster Design)
• 1972: Ululu : Jesse Ed Davis (design, photography)
• 1973: Tommy : As Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra (design, photography)
• 1973: Witness : Spooky Tooth (design, photography)
• 1974: Stop All That Jazz : Leon Russell (design)
• 1975: Mysteries : Keith Jarrett (Artistic Director)
• 1975: Those Southern Knights : The Crusaders (Artistic Director)
• 1976: Groove-A-Thon : Isaac Hayes (Artistic Director)
• 1976: I Hope We Get to Love in Time : Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (Artwork)
• 1976: Illusions : Jimmy Ponder (Artistic Director)
• 1976: Long May You Run : The Stills-Young Band (design)
• 1976: Rose of Cimarron : Poco (Art Direction, Design)
• 1976: Shake Some Action : The Flamin 'Groovies (Artistic Director)
• 1976: Texas Rock for Country Rollers : Sir Doug & the Texas Tornados (Artistic Director, Photography)
• 1976: Together Again ... Live : Bobby Bland & BB King (Artistic Director)
• 1977: Sail Boat : Jonathan Edwards (graphic design, photography)
• 1978: You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish : REO Speedwagon (Artistic Director, Design, Photography, Cover Design)
• 1979: Blue Kentucky Girl : Emmylou Harris (design, photography)
• 1981: Strait Country : George Strait (photography)
• 1989: Roadrunner : Smith Sisters (design, photography)
• 1989: Starr Struck: Best of Ringo Starr, Vol. 2 : Ringo Starr (Artistic Director)
• 1994: Hugh Masekela & Union of South Africa : Hugh Masekela (design, photography)
• 1995: Strait Out of the Box : George Strait (photography)
• 1996: Loneliness & Temptation / A Heart Full of Song : Clarence Carter (photography)
• 1996: Persimmons : Jim Lauderdale (artwork, artistic director, design, photography)
• 1996: Portraits : Emmylou Harris (photography)
• 1996: Victim of Life's Circumstances / Genuine Cowhide : Delbert McClinton (Artistic Director)
• 1997: Farewells & Fantasies : Phil Ochs (photography)
• 1999: Box of Pearls: The Janis Joplin Collection : Janis Joplin (design, photography)
• 1999: Little David Years: 1971–1977 : George Carlin (design, photography)
• 2000: Asylum Recordings: Jo Jo Gunne + Bite Down Hard : Jo Jo Gunne (design, photography)
• 2000: Collection : Janis Joplin (design, photography)
• 2000: Lone Star Beer & Bob Wills Music / For All Our Cowboy F : Red Steagall (Artistic Director, Photography)
• 2001: Notice to Appear / A Banquet in Blues : John Mayall (Artistic Director)
• 2001: Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark [Fantastic Ex] : Dillard and Clark (Artistic Director)
• 2001: Stained Glass Reflections: Anthology, 1960–1970 : Scott McKenzie (design, photography)
• 2002: From the Inside / A Good Feelin 'to Know : Poco (Design, Photography)
• 2003: Child of Clay / Windmills of Your Mind : Jimmie Rodgers (Artistic Director, Photography)
• 2004: Blue Kentucky Girl [Bonus Tracks] : Emmylou Harris (design, photography)
• 2004: Jackie ... Plus : Jackie DeShannon (design, photography)
• 2004: Pieces of the Sky [Bonus Tracks] : Emmylou Harris (design, photography)
• 2005: Alone Together / Headkeeper : Dave Mason (design, photography)
• 2005: Beat of the Brass [Deluxe Edition] : Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (Artistic Director)
• 2005: Chronicles : The Carpenters (Artistic Director)
• 2005: Concert for Bangladesh [DVD] : George Harrison and Friends (photography, concept for the original design concept)
• 2005: Don't Fight the Feeling : Aretha Franklin / King Curtis (design)
• 2005: You Can Sing on the Left or Bark on the Right [Bonus] : Dirk Hamilton (Artistic Director)
• 2006: Bust Out at Full Speed: The Sire Years : The Flamin 'Groovies (Artistic Director)
• 2006: Flowers [Japan] : The Rolling Stones (graphic design)
• 2006: Home [Bonus Tracks] : Delaney and Bonnie (Cover Design)
• 2006: Live at Fillmore West [Deluxe] : King Curtis (Design)
• 2006: Live at Fillmore West : Aretha Franklin (Design)
• 2006: Misty Roses / The Wonder of You : The Sandpipers (Artistic Director)
• 2007: Monterey Pop Festival : Various Artists (Logo)

Web links

• Homepage

supporting documents

1. ↑ Tom Wilkes, Album Cover Designer, Dies at 69 , NYT , July 20, 2009, accessed June 3, 2015
2. ↑ Jesse Ed Davis - Ululu , Discogs