President Bill Clinton has called Herman Leonard, "The greatest jazz photographer in the history of the genre." Born March 6, 1923 and raised in Allentown, PA.

The Herman Leonard Jazz Archive was established in 2007 and in 2008 was awarded a Grammy Foundation Grant for Archiving and Preservation. This project was successful in digitally archiving Leonard's catalog of over 35,000 negatives, comprising a visual documentation of America's original art form, preserving it for future generations.

On August 14, 2010, Herman Leonard passed away, surrounded by his family in Los Angeles, CA at the age of 87. Throughout his long life, he traveled and lived around the world, capturing images with his distinctive style. Whether he was photographing Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong or a street musician in his home in New Orleans, Herman's warmth and engaging personality continued to open doors for him and his camera; to reveal a world we might have missed.