The Jackson 4 (Colour)

THE JACKSON 4
Jackson Hole, Wyoming – 2025

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyoming opened its doors in 1937 and has become one of the most recognisable and celebrated cowboy bars in America. It offers a backdrop to hundreds of “selfies” every day and its longevity as an institution has allowed it to be permanently woven into the fabric of Americana. Very few country music stars have circumvented the Cowboy Bar.

I see it primarily as a place of the night, not the day; the fabled neon lights mark the epicentre of a community that retains an understated cowboy charm despite the huge wealth that sits in the Teton amphitheater. I have only ever photographed the facade of this bar in the middle of the night - it just seems the right option.

On this occasion, my creative leaning was to tell a 1970s music story with the nighttime facade of the bar as my backdrop. After all, little has changed here since the 1970s and this is a music venue first and foremost.

The VW bus was an obvious starting prop, but perhaps less likely was my choice of band leader - the American sporting icon - John McEnroe. John is a passionate guitarist, so I knew this role would appeal to his forever engaged mind. He was also something of a cowboy when it came to showing deference to authority in the tennis world. John brought the Wild West to Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows, so it was a natural fit at several levels.

I believe that my Jackson 4 caught the right vibe that night and the falling snow adds to the sense of place. I would imagine that back in the day many cowboys would have paid good money to swap with John and be on the road with these girls. But he has currency - he is, after all, John McEnroe.
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