Veteran photographer and documentarian John Crooms joins hosts DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray to examine over three decades of capturing Atlanta's Black music nightlife and underground culture. The conversation traces Crooms' transition from film to digital media, his focus on documenting underground house music scenes over hip-hop, and the inspiration he drew from New York's Paradise Garage era. Crooms details his "A Great Day in Atlanta" group portrait project collaboration and explains how the city's independent radio stations and record shops formed the cultural infrastructure for Black creative expression.
The Breakdown
- Documenting Underground House Music vs. Commercial Hip-Hop: Crooms explains his decision to prioritize underground house music events over hip-hop venues to avoid industry door politics and capture authentic community connections].
- Transitioning from Analog Negatives to Digital Archives: A look at the technical and logistical evolution of club photography from 1990s film negatives to digital files, along with the impact of smartphones on party culture].
- The Legacy of "A Great Day in Atlanta": The origins of the recurring decennial portrait documenting Atlanta's DJs, poets, and creatives, inspired by historical group photography and local community gatherings.
- Atlanta's Independent Music Infrastructure: How college radio stations like WCLK, WRFG, and Album 88 alongside record stores such as Earwax and Mood's Music sustained the city's Black music scene.
Guest Bio
John Crooms is an Atlanta-based photographer and historian who has chronicled the city's art, music, and cultural scene since the 1990s. Often referred to as "Everybody's Favorite Photographer", Crooms focuses on visual storytelling, preserving cultural memory, and documenting creative movements across the South.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.crooms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcrooms69/
Chapter Markers
00:00 Intro Theme
00:04 Welcome to the Episode
02:42 Introducing John Crooms
02:56 A Personal Thank You from Jay Ray
05:17 Quick Transition
05:19 Advice for New Photographers
07:11 Birthday Reflections & Legacy
09:46 Transition
09:53 Three Decades Behind the Lens: Analog to Digital
11:40 How Phones Changed the Party Experience
13:24 Rediscovering Lost Moments in the Archive
16:29 Why House Music Over Hip-Hop
20:08 Transition
20:17 The Power and Responsibility of a Photographer
23:43 Name Recognition at the Door
25:20 Following the DJ: Choosing Where to Be
27:59 Quick Transition
28:01 Paradise Garage & Musical Roots
34:26 Hip-Hop's Fashion & Fetish Crossover
38:17 Quick Transition
38:19 A Great Day in Atlanta
42:55 Atlanta's Music Infrastructure
47:34 Where to Find John & Farewell
52:19 Outro Theme
#BlackMusicHistory #AtlantaNightlife #HouseMusic #MusicPhotography #QueuePoints
