A native of New York City, Jim McCarthy was a founding member of the legendary ESP Disk proto-punk group "The Godz"in the mid 1960's and has loved listening to, studying and making music as far back as he can remember.

In 1990 he began to develop another of his lifelong interests, photography. After studying at The International Center of Photography in New York, he began applying his skills to documenting his favorite performers at shows he attended. While visiting New Orleans in 1993 to photograph The Jazz & Heritage Festival, a seed was planted in his mind; he would photograph as many of the musicians whom he respected as was possible but not to put a face to the sounds only, rather to attempt to capture these gifted performers while they are in the rapture of creating their music, a truly magical state.

The purpose of this work is to inform, educate and convey the special place these people reside in while providing so much pleasure to others.

Jim's images have appeared in publications worldwide including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Mojo, Elle and numerous others. His prints are widely collected internationally and he is in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art.