Lynn Goldsmith was the perfect person and industry representative to share a talk in conjunction with the Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm showing at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Because, during the conversation held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 and hosted by NPR music critic, correspondent and author Ann Powers we learned how Goldsmith got her first big break as a teenager when she photographed the Beatles from the waist down in Miami in the historic and hectic time frame covered by the exhibit.

Lynn Goldsmith and Ann Powers converse in Nashville.

Goldsmith's photo of the Beatles' suit pants legs and boots was soon published announcing an auspicious start to a career that would last decades and one that is still going strong today.

Lynn Goldsmith moved to Nashville in 2018 specifically to provide a "pattern interrupt" in her own life presumably to shake up routine and rattle a rut. She described appyling the same technique to photo sessions with The Police when during particularly tense moments she suggested Sting and the boys wear her wigs in order to change the mood when she thought the band members were on the verge of killing each other.

During the 90-minute program the vivacious industry legend went a slightly unusual yet strangely refreshing route admitting to having mostly transactional friendships, being super controlling and highly manipulative in dealing with her high-profile subjects.

As an example, she told a story about going against Victory Tour enacted rules to get Michael Jackson to a rooftop position around dusk because that was the "magic hour" and a captive King Of Pop followed her direction and even took off his shirt just as the sun was setting to produce a truly magical photo in the process.

Through the Lens and Into the Music at the Frist Art Museum.

Other tales included insider information on her times with Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen as slides from her vast portfolio provided context and confirmation that she has led a truly charmed life. More proof followed as pics of Tom Petty, Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards and a young John Cougar were shown on the big screen behind Powers and Goldsmith as their "Through the Lens and Into the Music" presentation unfolded.

But, Lynn Goldsmith is so much more than the women behind the lens - she is a true pioneer and trailblazer for women in an industry that was dominated by males well into the early seventies when she became the youngest director on ABC's In Concert and a co-manager of Grand Funk Railroad from her home state of Michigan.

Goldsmith also became a chart-topping recording artist herself when with the help of Sting she climbed the charts as Will Powers who produced danceable self-help centric tracks that mirrored the philosophical ideas of the Law of Attraction nearly three decades before Rhonda Byrne re-popularized the same secrets of success in her series of books based around The Secret.

Today, Goldsmith has moved the bulk of her operations to Music City even though she is presently more often on the road then she is home. Still, Lynn made it a point to say her gallery in the Belle Meade section of town is now open to serious buyers by appointment only. So, reach out to her at rockandrollphotogallery.com to book your visit and pick a real piece of rock history direct from the legend herself.

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm run through January 26 in Nashville.

Related Links: For more information on LYNN GOLDSMITH and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Frist Art Museum | Lynn Goldsmith | Ann Powers | Paul Is Dead-On in Capturing the Triumph and Turbulence of Early Beatlemania at the Frist in Nashville