Guy Webster obit

Rock Photographer Guy Webster Dead at 79

Photographer captured images seen on album covers like Doors' 1967 self-titled LP, Simon & Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence and Byrds' Turn! Turn! Turn!

 He was not on the list.

Guy Webster died peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at his home in Ojai, Calif. He was 79 and had been a renowned photographer.

One of the early innovators of rock and roll photography, Guy spanned the worlds of music, film, and politics in a stellar career of more than 60 years. While shooting album covers and billboards for groups that included The Rolling Stones, The Mamas & the Papas, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel and Chicago, he also photographed such film legends as Rita Hayworth, Dean Martin and Natalie Wood.

As the primary celebrity photographer for countless worldwide magazines, Guy’s artistry captured a vast range of talent and luminaries from Igor Stravinsky, Truman Capote and Zubin Mehta to Barbara Streisand, Jack Nicholson, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, and many more. Presidential subjects included Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Guy had a deep love for his devoted wife of 40 years, Leone, for his children Merry, Jessie, Sarah, Erin and Michael, for grandchildren Dylan and Melissa, and for his brother Roger, also known as Mona.

With all his professional successes, Guy’s family, extended family, and wide-ranging group of friends and acquaintances remember him as a raconteur of scintillating stories of his colorful life; for generously reaching out to friends and strangers alike; and for his passion as a collector of vintage Italian motorcycles. He also taught and inspired groups of photography students at Oak Grove School in Ojai.

Webster's first marriage was to Bettie Beall, and his second marriage was to model Leone James in 1980. Webster had a younger brother, Mona Roger Webster.

He will be missed by all.

Donations can be made to the newly established Guy Webster Photography Fund, Oak Grove School, 220 W. Lomita Avenue, Ojai, CA. 93023.

Notable Album Covers

Year     Artist            Album

1964    The Rip Chords Hey Little Cobra

1965    Barry McGuire            Eve of Destruction

1965    The Byrds   Turn! Turn! Turn!

1966    The Rolling Stones            Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)

1966    The Mamas and the Papas   If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

1966    Paul Revere & The Raiders Just Like Us

1966    Simon & Garfunkel            Sounds of Silence

1966    The Rolling Stones            Aftermath

1966    The Hollies  Stop! Stop! Stop! (U.S. release of For Certain Because)

1967    The Turtles  Happy Together

1967    Tim Buckley            Goodbye and Hello

1967    Spirit            Spirit

1967    Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band    Strictly Personal

1967    The Doors   The Doors

1967    Taj Mahal   Taj Mahal

1968    The Byrds   The Notorious Byrd Brothers

1968    Nico            The Marble Index

1968    Procol Harum  Shine on Brightly

1970    Carole King     Writer

Actor

Maud Adams and Beau Bridges in The Christian Licorice Store (1971)

The Christian Licorice Store

5.1

Hollywood Party Guest

1971

 

Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Kay Kyser, and Ginny Simms in You'll Find Out (1940)

You'll Find Out

6.1

Infant (uncredited)

1940

 

Camera and Electrical Department

The Turtles: Happy Together (1991)

The Turtles: Happy Together

8.0

Video

still photographer

1991

 

Danny Elfman, Jan Stuart Schwartz, and Susan Tyrrell in Forbidden Zone (1980)

Forbidden Zone

6.5

still photographer: animation

1980

 

Additional Crew

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions (2020)

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions

7.3

TV Special

photos

2020