Help An Alabama Song Come To Life

Visual artist Tara Stallworth Lee is preparing a book that celebrates the music of Alabama. She’s currently raising funds for the project, and you can help make it happen.

“It’s several things, but first it’s for my dad,” says Lee, who lost her father in 2022. “It’s a way to connect to him through our shared love of music. And it’s a way to connect more deeply to Alabama. I had all these photos of people involved in music here, and I started to put all the parts together.”

The book, An Alabama Song, is a collection of images featuring the people and places that make up Lee’s musical memory. A member of Birmingham’s art community for more than a decade, Lee captures photos as souvenirs—not just moments from shows, but portraits of the characters that make those events special. “It’s a way to have a conversation and an experience with these people,” she says.

It’s a look at Alabama music through her lens, but it’s not just photography. You’ll also find some textile, stitching, sculpture, and more.

As you flip through the book, you’ll notice some recurring eccentricities in the framing. Lee has captured a few empty seats at the venues she’s visited, and some of her musician shots emphasize an instrument or action while cutting out the performer’s face. There’s emphasis in absence and omission, and through her photos, Lee shares what stood out to her in the moment.

Who’s that on the cover? If you’ve ever patroned a jazz show in Birmingham, you might recognize the flashy jacket. That’s José Carr, seasoned trumpeter and host of a long-running jazz jam.

“I met José at B.O.S.S. Ultra Lounge,” says Lee. “He’s rooted in the traditional jazz history of Birmingham.”

B.O.S.S. Ultra Lounge might be gone, but the music lives on. Now, Carr hosts his weekly jazz nights at True Story Brewing. “That place has introduced José to a whole new generation of people,” says Lee.

If you’d like to support Lee and An Alabama Song, visit the project’s Kickstarter page.