fine photography books & prints
Their Love of Music

In Their Love of Music photographer Steve Azzato has captured the essence of the creative spirit in the faces and words of the musicians themselves. Featuring portraits of 117 artists, the book takes a slightly different approach to music photography than typically seen. “The beauty of this project for me was being able to sit with a huge range of musicians and explore what drew them to their art”, says Azzato. “I was able to hear it in their voices and record it visually in their images”. In the simple quiet of a green room, without the crowds or bandmates or tour managers, Azzato’s photographs transcend the chaos of the stage and the intensity of the studio to reveal the inner spirit that drives each of his subjects.

“I love the contrasts that Steve has highlighted in his pictures”, says publisher Richard Mack of Quiet Light Publishing. “From grizzled veterans to kids just starting out, folks who play stadium shows to unpaid openers in small clubs, jazz to blues to rock to roots… what unites them all is in fact, their love of music.” Although as noted rock photographer Annie Liebowitz suggested to Azzato at the start of the project, ‘You had to pick the hardest subjects to photograph’, he has assembled a collection that is unrivaled in its intimacy and expression.

According to Steve, Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy said, "When I picked up the guitar I wanted to learn the guitar for the love of music." Singer / songwriter Nicholas Tremulis told him "It's not a career that's for sure, it’s a journey. And it's the best journey I've ever been on." These are but a few of the quotes from the 117 artists featured on the pages of this book.

With the foreword by Lester Holt, NBC News anchor and a musician himself, this look into the minds and feelings of the artists will inspire people in all walks of life, not just musicians and artists, but everyone who wants to follow their own path.

Steve Azzato has been a freelance photographer for many years along with being a cameraman for the NBC National News. This is his first book.

This book is destined to become one of the "must have" books on musicians. Whether you love photography, music or just the unbridled spirit of artistic expression - you'll want to own this stunning book in your library. Buy Now

Preview Their Love of Music Online

Follow the Their Love of Music Blog for the latest info, including info on the artists themselves and where they might be playing next!

Stephen Azzato has created a set of Limited Edition Prints from his book Their Love of Music. Each print has the portrait of the artist and their quote found in the book printed to his exacting standards. Both the photographer and the artist sign each print. The editions are limited to a maximum of 50 prints.

Each Giclee print is produced using archival inks on Epson Archival Fine Art Matt paper, which will last well over 100 years.

Pricing:
Prints   1 – 25 are priced at $450.00

Use the SHOP link above or go directly to this page: Their Love of Music Prints


Steve Azzato

Stephen Azzato:
Born and raised in the Midwest. Steve took to photography early in life, influenced by his uncle while on summer fishing trips. With his first camera, it was through trials and tribulations before he would eventually settle on candid portraits as his forte’. Employed through his twenties in the corporate setting, Steve realized that the creative world is where he felt most comfortable and switched occupations at the age of thirty two. Meeting his mentor, Tim Ortman, Steve was introduced into network television and soaked up all he could on frame composition, lighting, directing, audio and producing. He continues to work in this medium, contributing both still and moving pictures. Steve resides in the Chicago area.


Lester Holt

Lester Holt:
Lester Holt is the weekend anchor for the flagship broadcast NBC Nightly News, and is also the co-anchor of the weekend edition of Today. In addition, Holt serves as fill-in anchor and correspondent for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, the weekday Today program, as well as Dateline NBC. He also hosts documentaries for MSNBC, NBC’s 24-hour cable news network. Holt joined the NBC News family in 2000 from WBBM-TV in Chicago, where he spent 14 years, including anchoring the evening news, while also reporting extensively from spots around the world. His contribution to the CBS News broadcast 48 Hours, earned him the 1990 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for his work on 48 Hours: No Place Like Home. From time to time he joins friends with his electric or standup bass to play local jazz clubs where his taste runs from Ron Carter to Count Basie. He has been privileged to play with blues and rock artists while profiling them for network news stories. Holt studied government at California State University in Sacramento. He resides in New York City with his wife and family.

To see more about this books, along with our other offerings please use the link to our current offerings (SHOP) above. You may also order the book anytime by clicking the book cover. BUY NOW

The Artists

Aaron Neville
Adrian Belew
Alan White
Alejandro Escovedo
Alice Peacock
Allen Toussaint
Alvino Meredith Bennett
Andrew Langer
Ann Hampton Callaway
Anna Fermin
Anthony Patler
Aron Burton
Benjamin Taylor
Bill Frisell
Bill Payne
Billy Blough
Bo Ramsey
Buddy Guy
Chris Gilson
Chris Stewart
Christopher Chew
Chuck Goering
Clint Black
Cody Dickinson
Dave Alvin
Dave Brubeck
Dave Mason
Dave Specter
David "Honeyboy" Edwards
Davy Knowles
Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater
Eric Bibb
Eric Slick
Ezra Furman
Fred Tackett
Gabriel Ford
Genevieve Schatz
George Thorogood
Gerald Johnson
Graham Parker
Grant Tye
Greg Laswell
Hayden Nicholas
Ian Neville
Ingrid Michaelson
Ivan Neville
Jason Rogers
Jennie DeVoe
Jennifer Peterson
Jimmy Carter
Joe Ely
Joe Satriani
Joel Guzman
John Leventhal
Johnne Sambataro
Jon Langford
Joseph Allen Wooten
Julie Slick
Katie Herron
Kelly Joe Phelps
Kendall Lee Lewis
Kenneth Gradney
Kristina Train
Kurt Neumann
Lonnie Brooks
Loudon Wainwright III
Louie Zagoras
Luke Sayers
Luther Dickinson
Madeleine Peyroux
Marc Cohn
Marc Walloch
Mat Kearney
Michael Frank
Michelle Malone
Natalia Zukerman
Nathan Rowe
Nicholas Tremulis
Nick Daniels III
Nora O'Connor
Norton Buffalo
Ollie O'Shea
Paul Barrere
Paul Burch
Peter Himmelman
Pieta Brown
Pinetop Perkins
Ramsey Lewis
Redd Volkaert
Richard Shindell
Rick Nielsen
Rick Trankle
Robbie Fulks
Rodney Brown
Ron Miles
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Rosanne Cash
Rudy Royston
Ryan Stasik
Sam Clayton
Sam Llanas
Shane Stewart
Shawn Colvin
Shawn Mullins
Shemekia Copeland
Steve Miller
Susan Tedeschi
Suzy Bogguss
Terrance Simien
Theresa Andersson
Tift Merritt
Tony Hall
Tony Scherr
Wayne Baker Brooks
Will Barrow
Willie Nile
Willy Porter
 

Their Love of Music

Photography by Stephen Azzato
Foreword by Lester Holt, Newcaster & Musician

Published by Quiet Light Publishing

Buy Now


  • ISBN: 978-0-9753954-3-1
  • 11" x 13", 252 Pages, 117 Artist images
  • Price: $50.00
  • All orders will be signed by the photographer!

Awards

2011 International Book Awards

Photography Book - People

Gold Medal

2011 Benjamin Franklin Book Awards

Best Cover Design - Large Format Books

Gold Medal

2011 Best Book Awards

Best Book

Finalist

What People are Saying

About Their Love of Music

"Love the book....really found it to be wonderfully edited and covers many journeymen as well as established Chicago/scene musicians. I applaud you for finding the guys and gals that do not get the press or presence as a Corgan/Tweedy these days. They get the short end of the press and photo ops, but are essential to all bands and music communities."

- Joe Shanahan

Founder/Owner, Metro and Smart Bar

About Their Love of Music

"I can't wait to bring it home and read it"

- John Farneda

Music Director WXRT

About Their Love of Music

"I agreed to write the foreword for Steve's book based on conversation and seeing some sample pictures from the concept. Having returned to my office to find a copy last week, my reaction was that it is amazing work and he should be proud! I'm very pleased to be a part of the project."

- Lester Holt

NBC Weekend Today Show anchor and author of the Foreword

About Their Love of Music

"The pictures are unbelievable, so crisp... it will be on everybody's coffee table after the holiday season"

- Lin Brehmer

WXRT

About Their Love of Music

"This book is fantastic, such a wide variety of artists, very nice"

- Norm Winer

Program Director WXRT

About Their Love of Music

"Wow! You weren't kidding that is an awesome spread. And I don't even recognize maybe as many as half of those names. But it makes me want to know them just based on how many I did know. Dave Mason...awesome! Dave Brubeck...even awesomer! I loved seeing Nicholas Tremulus, Shemekia Copeland and all the other Chicago talent. Very cool guys!"

- M.S.

Chicago

About Their Love of Music

"It was an honor to be a part of the project. Thank you very much!"

- Genevieve Schatz

Musician

About Their Love of Music

"I'm so proud to be a part of this project, and will support it vigorously."

- Luke Sayers

Musician

About Their Love of Music

"I starting looking at the PDF of the book online last night, intending to just get a taste of it, and wound up going through all of it. It just pulls you in. The portraits are exceptional. There are quite a few artists I did not know. The photos and quotes make me curious to hear their music, too. Which is as it should be. Congratulations to Steve on an extremely impressive effort. I'll have to get me one."

- Dan Phillips

Home of the Groove

About Their Love of Music

"...such an honor to be a part of it."

- Eric Slick

Musician

About Their Love of Music

"Honored to be a part of it!"

- Grant Tye

Musician

About Their Love of Music

"It's a real honor to have been included in this beautiful collection"

- Natalia Zuckerman

Musician

About Their Love of Music

"It is unlike anything I've ever seen and what I love about it is the fact that the portraits are just that...not on stage, not 'action' shots. And I also really like the fact that there are plenty of people I know and plenty of people I don't"

- Terry Stewart

President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

About Their Love of Music

"Steve - From what I see online the book looks outstanding - flattered to be in such company"

- Ollie O'Shea

Musician

About Their Love of Music

"...a very special project!"

- G.S.

Ohio

About Their Love of Music

"This is a great book and I am so proud to be included in it! I can't wait to see it!"

- Susan Tedeschi

Musician