Alfred Wertheimer, the photographer whose 1956 photographs of Elvis Presley documented the start of a legendary career, has died. Wertheimer’s editor and gallery curator, Chris Murray, said Wertheimer, who was 85, died of natural causes at his New York apartment.
Wertheimer was 26 and Presley 21 when he was assigned to photograph the unknown singer. He travelled with Presley for two weeks in 1956 and produced a series of black and white photos that have been published worldwide and were the subject of exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution and the Grammy Museum.
Among the most famous shots is The Kiss, a photo of Elvis nuzzling a woman fan backstage. Priscilla Presley said on Tuesday that no photographer was able to get as close up and personal with Presley ever again.
