Before photographer W. Eugene Smith lived in a rundown loft in the thick of New York’s jazz scene, he lived in another world. A native Kansan who earned a scholarship to Notre Dame, Smith was a staff photographer for LIFE magazine -- considered photojournalism's top job in an era when photographers were major stars. What compelled him to leave that life behind?

Before photographer W. Eugene Smith lived in a rundown loft in the thick of New York’s jazz scene, he lived in another world. A native Kansan who earned a scholarship to Notre Dame, Smith was a staff photographer for LIFE magazine -- considered photojournalism's top job in an era when photographers were major stars. What compelled him to leave that life behind?

Before photographer W. Eugene Smith lived in a rundown loft in the thick of New York’s jazz scene, he lived in another world. A native Kansan who earned a scholarship to Notre Dame, Smith was a staff photographer for&nbsp;LIFE&nbsp;magazine -- considered photojournalism's top job in an era when photographers were major stars. What compelled him to leave that life behind?

Episode 2: Enter W. Eugene Smith

W. Eugene Smith was a famous photo essayist for LIFE magazine and a suburban family man when he left it all in 1957 and moved to a rundown loft in Manhattan. The building had already become a popular hangout and jamming space for jazz players both prominent and obscure, and Smith spent the next decade documenting the music, conversations and personalities that passed through. This program, produced and hosted by Sara Fishko and originally heard as a 10-part radio series in 2009, pulls from the 4,000 hours of audio Smith recorded.

Society & Culture

Documentary

Arts

History

Performing Arts

W. Eugene Smith was a famous photo essayist for LIFE magazine and a suburban family man when he left it all in 1957 and moved to a rundown loft in Manhattan. The building had already become a popular hangout and jamming space for jazz players both prominent and obscure, and Smith spent the next decade documenting the music, conversations and personalities that passed through. This program, produced and hosted by Sara Fishko and originally heard as a 10-part radio series in 2009, pulls from the 4,000 hours of audio Smith recorded.

W. Eugene Smith was a famous photo essayist for LIFE magazine and a suburban family man when he left it all in 1957 and moved to a rundown loft in Manhattan. The building had already become a popular hangout and jamming space for jazz players both prominent and obscure, and Smith spent the next decade documenting the music, conversations and personalities that passed through. This program, produced and hosted by Sara Fishko&nbsp;and originally heard as a 10-part radio series in 2009, pulls from the 4,000 hours of audio Smith recorded.

Share Episode 2: Enter W. Eugene Smith

Sign up to save your podcasts

Episode 2: Enter W. Eugene Smith

Episode 2: Enter W. Eugene Smith

More shows like The Jazz Loft Radio Series

Science Friday

On the Media

The Brian Lehrer Show

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Radiolab

In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Death, Sex & Money

KILL TONY

The New Yorker Radio Hour

The Daily

Spooked

The Anthropocene Reviewed

Dolly Parton's America

Radiolab for Kids