Smithsonian Folkways releases never-before-seen photo of Bahamian guitar legend Joseph Spence

Album of Unheard Recordings Coming Later This Year

Smithsonian Folkways is prepping a new album of never-before-heard recordings from the great Bahamian guitar legend Joseph Spence. And today they’re releasing a never-before-seen photo of Spence. Taken by Belgian photographer Guy Droussart in the 70s outside Spence’s home in the Bahamas, the picture captures Spence playing his inimitable fingerstyle guitar. “Meeting Joseph Spence and hearing him play the guitar over the course of a few days was beyond all my expectations,” Droussart said recently. “His warm hospitality and the sound of his music touched me deeply.”

Feel free to share the picture around (just credit Guy Droussart and Smithsonian Folkways), here’s a download.

The photo was uncovered during the process of producing a new album of previously unheard material recorded in the prime of Spence’s career. I’ll have more news soon on the album! If you’re not familiar with Spence, he was discovered during the folk revival and was such an amazingly different and unique guitarist and singer that he influenced everyone from Richard Thompson to The Grateful Dead, Ry Cooder, and Taj Mahal. Check out him singing here for a quick example of his music.