Page 7 - BiTS_03_MARCH_2024

Richard Allen 'Dick' Waterman

(July 14, 1935 - January 26, 2024)

Oxford Mississippi.

Dick Waterman was a writer, music promoter, and
photographer influential in the development and
recording of blues music since the 1960s. He was
among the first non-performers to be inducted into
the Blues Hall of Fame, and his photographs have
been shown in galleries and at events around the
country.

As a booking agent, photographer, author, and
music journalist he had a direct impact on
advancing the careers of Mississippi John Hurt,
Skip James, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Arthur
Crudup, Rev. Gary Davis, Taj Mahal,
Robert Pete Williams, Jessie Mae
Hemphill, Booker White, Otis Rush,
Charley Patton, Mississippi Fred
McDowell, Skip James, Howlin’ Wolf,
John Lee Hooker, Sam “Lightnin”
Hopkins, Willie Dixon, and Luther
Allison.

Bobby Rush has called Waterman “the
best manager anyone could have.”
Author Peter Guralnick once said of
Waterman, “He could tell his
performers if they were doing
something wrong. He could tell them
that as an equal.”

Waterman also had a successful career
as a photographer, capturing images of blues, folk, and jazz artists. His work was displayed in A
Gallery For Fine Photography in New Orleans, and a selection has been collected by Insight
Editions in “Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive”, which first saw
the light of day in 2004. A full biography of Dick was also written a few years ago, “Dick
Waterman: A Life In Blues”, which filled in many of the gaps for me about his life.

Dick was also a stalwart representative of blues and folk artists during their lives and careers,
and helped to protect their estates after their passing, overseeing their legacies on behalf of
heirs.

BiTS can pay no greater compliment to Dick Waterman than to publish as part of this obituary
a truly wonderful photograph by him of B.B. King, which you will find on the next page.

Ian K. McKenzie