There were numerous people who ‘were there’ at unique moments in history, but Jaffe was central to the flash points of culture as the consumate hyphenate — artist, filmmaker, producer, photographer, and musician. After leaving college, he found himself in the right place at the right time:

Still in New York, Jaffe decided to attend the last show of Traffic, in Madison Square Garden. When he went backstage to visit Capaldi, he met “this Jamaican guy who had this cassette of a record he had just finished.” The “guy” was Bob Marley and the cassette was Bob Marley and The Wailers’ groundbreaking “Catch a fire.”

He would go on to play harmonica for the Wailers, produce albums for Peter Tosh as well as shoot this burgeoning music culture. His path would also cross a now infamous visual artist in Jamaica, Jean-Michel Basquiat. Stumbling across these photos, it obvious that Jaffe’s talents also lie in his ability to find and witness talent.

More photos:

(via Bowhaus)

Website: Lee Jaffe