Local artist Craig Legg’s new book, “A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll” now available

Earlier this year, Birmingham artist Craig Legg began working to transform his popular art exhibit, A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll, into a limited-edition book. Consisting of over 350 paintings depicting the venues, artists and figures that made Birmingham’s rock and roll scene, the new book will be available for a limited time starting in mid-November—just in time for the holiday gift-buying season!

About Birmingham artist Craig Legg

A multidisciplinary artist fluent in both poetry and visual art, Legg is a prolific creative, always working on his next big project. Known for his distinctive, neo-realistic style, he’s created pieces inspired by local jazz legend Sun Ra and the city’s Dia de los Muertos ceremonies. Recently, he shared his work on the world stage during The World Games 2022, when he debuted an expansive display of art pieces inspired by the international multi-sport event.

However, one of Legg’s longest and most popular ongoing projects is his Trading Card Series. Consisting of paintings that honor the people who contributed to sports, music and the arts, previous collections in the Trading Card Series include “History of Birmingham Artists,” “History of Birmingham Jazz” and “Alabama Roots Music,” among others.

“A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll” is an ambitious project 6 years in the making

The eighth iteration in the Trading Card Collection, “A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll,” dates back to 2019, when Legg began researching local music history and interviewing musicians, deejays and venue owners. Over the next several years, he created hundreds of paintings related to rock and roll in Birmingham, spotlighting famous artists from the Magic City like Emmylou Harris and Taylor Hicks as well as the behind-the-scenes people and places that contributed to the music scene.

Although the project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Craig Legg unveiled his “A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll” collection at East Village Arts on January 28, 2023.

Due to the exhibit’s resounding success, Craig Legg and a team of supporters assembled each painting from the exhibit into a single, limited-edition book. Inside the pages, you’ll find over 350 paintings depicting more than 70 years of rock and roll history in Birmingham, including:

• Bands and musicians
• DJs and event promoters
• Concert halls and venues
• Significant musical events

“This history is, first of all, great fun to look at. But it’s also a work of real documentary value, helping us understand a place and its people, its sounds and its spaces, its legends, its lineage, its haircuts and t-shirts and handbills and howls and all of its grit and its joy…. this is not a book. It is a love letter to Birmingham, and to rock and roll, and to Birmingham rock and roll.”

Burgin Mathews, Southern Music Research Center

Want to get your hands on a copy of “A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll”? Attend the official book launch and signing party on Saturday, November 15, from 2-5PM at WorkPlay or order a copy on Craig Legg’s website.

The book will also be available at select locally-owned retailers in Birmingham starting next week:

• Alabama Booksmith
• Alabama Goods (Homewood & Hoover)
• ALKMY
• A’Mano
• Jim Reed Books
• The Museum Store – Birmingham Museum of Art
• Renaissance Records
• Revival
• Rome Curate
• Sanctum Tattoos & Comics
• Seasick Records
• Shoppe
• Soca Clothing
• Thank You Books

Did you see Craig Legg’s A History of Birmingham Rock & Roll exhibit at East Village Arts? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!