Chuck Thompson, a 1979 graduate of Michigan State University's College of Communication Arts and Sciences, spent his days as an advertising major and nights capturing concerts and events—honing his creative skills and developing a passion for photography—as a concert photographer for Pop Entertainment from 1975 to 1979.
One of Thompson's most memorable experiences was photographing Bruce Springsteen. Thompson recalls the energy and excitement in the air and how he went about capturing the atmosphere:
“Going to see Springsteen was such a dream, it was truly amazing. There were some times when you knew a song, and you knew a chord, a high note, or something. And you could focus on it, you could just wait, I know, he's going to do this, at this point, and I was ready to capture that.”
In addition to Springsteen, Chuck also had the opportunity to photograph Santana, Earth, Wind and Fire, and many of the most popular bands and musical ensembles of the era. These experiences were formative and helped him develop his creative eye and prepare for a career in advertising after graduation.
Today, Chuck looks back on his time as a concert photographer at Michigan State University with fondness and pride. He credits his experiences at MSU with shaping his career and helping him to become the successful advertising professional he is today. “Advertising allows you to touch everything. I’ve worked with photographers. I’ve worked in audio. I found my niche was in copywriting, but I discovered all those other things that I didn't know existed on MSU’s campus.”
Alex Gillespie, '17