Apollo 11 and NASA land the first man on the moon

Donald Trump wins the 2016 American election for president

Michael Jackson, the so-called "King of Pop", dies in his Los Angeles home.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott protests the treatment of African Americans in Alabama and the U.S.

States begin passing "Shelter in Place Orders" to curb the spread of a new disease called the Coronavirus.

Terrorists use three planes to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashes in Pennsylvania.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is Founded

Elvis Presley dies of a heart attack in his home

Janet Macoska was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, later the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Take a look at how this city shaped her childhood. Then follow her career as she becomes one of the most well-known photographers in Rock and Roll history! 

Macoska's first well-known photograph was taken in 1966. This photo features the rock duo Sonny and Cher at the WKYC radio studio in Cleveland. 

Macoska's first photograph

Janet Macoska was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1954. 

Janet Macoska's Birthday!

In 1989, Macoska got to shoot Paul McCartney at a press conference and concert. Later, one of her shots of McCartney performing would be brought into the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London. 

Macoska Gets THE McCartney Shot

From 1975 to 1985, Janet Macoska split her time between shooting photos for the occasional Rock and Roll concert and taking photos for the Cleveland Indians. Never a huge fan of baseball, Macoska faced significant backlash as a woman amongst the male photographers. She didn't let that stop her, though. 

Janet Macoska gives baseball a swing

In 2003, Janet Macoska and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum collaborated on an exhibition, titled "It's ALWAYS Rock and Roll." It featured many of Macoska's photos from at least three decades of Rock and Roll concerts. The exhibition toured across the United States and even went to some international venues, like The World Intellectual Property Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2015. 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Exhibition: "It's ALWAYS Rock and Roll."

In 1988, Frank Sinatra was invited to receive a special Cleveland Cavaliers jersey with his name embossed on the back. Macoska was invited to take two - and only two - photos of Sinatra receiving the jersey. When she accidentally snapped a third, Sinatra's producer turned with anger. Macoska panicked and thanked Sinatra for his time. In all his glory, Sinatra noticed his producer closing in on Macoska and took action. He kissed Macoska on the lips! Then he walked away to begin his concert. Everybody on his team left her alone after that. 

The Sinatra Incident

In 1977, Macoska traveled to England for the first time, where she met with her friend and mentor, Alex Harvey of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. He introduced her to other British photographers, who helped her find an agent for her work. 

Janet Goes to England

With Bruce Springsteen's vibrant 1985 concert gracing the front cover, Janet Macoska's first collection of Rock and Roll photos is published in 2015. 

ALL ACCESS CLEVELAND Published

In 2017, Janet Macoska was inducted into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame for her work with Rock and Roll photos. 

Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame Induction

Macoska and her classmates at Cuyahoga Community College were charged with interviewing someone near them or whoever seemed cool for a class assignment. While most students went with a family member or neighbor, Macoska had bigger ideas. She interviewed one of the biggest names in early Monday Night Football reporting: Howard Cosell. She got her interview, and blew away the rest of her class in the process!

Janet Interviews Howard Cosell

Macoska often credits her early interest in Rock and Roll to her discovery of the Beatles in 1964 at 10 years old. She figured if they could make a difference, so could she!

Janet Finds the Beatles

In the 1980s, music artists and their agents started getting more particular about who could take photographs and when at their shows. Macoska recalls a Madonna concert in 1987 that picked up on a then-popular policy of "three songs and you're out". Photographers could shoot the first three songs, and then they were kicked out of the concert unless they had a regular ticket and put down their camera. It made Rock and Roll photography challenging but not impossible. 

Photography gets Stricter

In 2006, Macoska became the offical/unoffical photographer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, shooting events and concerts held on site. 

Standards for Janet Macoska: Her Life

National Core Arts Standards