Crowd-Rock: Smithsonian launches music Web site for fan photos

NEW YORK, N.Y. – If you’ve got any rock or rap star photos stored on your iPhone or stashed somewhere in your attic, the Smithsonian wants to hear from you.

On Tuesday, Smithsonian Books and Smithsonian Media launched rockandroll.si.edu, which will feature images taken by fans along with words and pictures from such musicians as Graham Nash and the Flaming Lips and from Roberta Bayley and other professional photographers. The Web site currently includes links for rock, rap, alternative, punk New Wave, heavy metal and folk rock.

A book by Bill Bentley is planned for fall 2017. Bentley told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had been brought in by Smithsonian project director Matt Litts.

“We talked about how it could be completely far-reaching in terms of those allowed to contribute, and hopefully help expose all kinds of musicians and periods,” said Bentley, a music industry veteran who is currently senior director of A&R at Concord Music Group. “There really are no boundaries in the possibilities. I’d like to help spread all styles of music to those who visit the site, and show just how all-encompassing the history of what all these incredible artists have created over the years. What better way than for people to share their visual experiences, no matter on what level, to the world at large.”