Tom Waits in performance with Leon Redbone opening at the Palladium in Dallas on Dec. 2, 1978.
Robert W. Hart ©2013

I was a 23-year-old photographer working at the Denton Record-Chronicle in December of 1978 when my best friend bought me a pair of tickets to see Tom Waits and Leon Redbone at The Palladium Ballroom. The December 2nd show was just a couple of weeks shy of my 24th birthday.

I was then, and continue to be, a fan of both artists but I’ve followed Waits’ career closely. His lyrics have always inspired me and he remains one of my favorite writer/performers. I’ve always believed that poetry, like art, is where you find it and Waits does it better than most.

Waits’ “The Heart of Saturday Night” album is pure genius. The Billboard Top Ten for 1978 featured no less than five songs by the Bee Gees and/or Andy Gibb. Debbie Boone and the Commodores were up there too and while Andy was asking “How deep is your love?” Waits was warning his squeeze that “If I exorcise my devils, well, my angels may leave too.”

My best friend, whom I just happened to be married to, accompanied me and I shot photos while Waits performed.

The Dallas Morning News writer, Pete Oppel did an interview with Waits during his Dallas stop and you can read that here.

This photo and others by several talented Dallas photographers are included in the upcoming “Shot In Dallas” exhibit at Kettle Art in Deep Ellum.