Portait of The Emergency Exit

This portrait of the band The Emergency Exit, taken by photographer Jini Dellaccio, is representative of the style she helped craft for the Northwest Rock scene, which captured the energy and vibrancy of her subjects even in still images.

Photographer Jini Dellaccio (1917-2014) was foundational to developing the image of the Northwest Rock scene, with her atmospheric and high energy black and white photos. Dellaccio studied painting at the Chicago Art Institute, but was self-trained in photography. She began working as a freelance fashion photographer while living in Long Beach, CA. After moving to Gig Harbor, WA, Dellaccio’s photography was exhibited at the Tacoma Art Museum which brought her to the attention of the Wailers, who were looking for professional photographs to accompany their next album. These photographs helped give a professional edge to the Wailers new album and introduced Dellaccio to the Northwest rock scene. She would tell The Seattle Times about attending her first Wailers show, “when that band started playing and I felt that music in my chest, it was the most exciting thing I have ever experienced and I just loved it.” Her love for the music, and her style, which favored action-shots, creative framing, and photos taken outside rather than in a studio, made her a popular photographer among the local bands. Bands such as the Sonics, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Merrilee Rush & the Turnabouts, the Daily Flash, Emergency Exit, City Zu, Bodine and Surprise Package, among others, went to Dellaccio to be photographed. Dellaccio was also known to photograph during live performances, a practice which would be adopted by later music photographers following in her footsteps.  

Emergency Exit was formed in 1965 by Paul Goldsmith (b. unknown), Luther Rabb (1942-2006), Bill Leyritz (1945-2006), and Jim Walters (b. unknown). Although the band members all had a history with mainstream Rock ‘n’ Roll, their willingness to experiment with new sounds for new audiences led them to produce music best characterized as Garage Rock. The group only performed together for a couple of years, disbanding in 1967, but members continued playing music individually and with other groups. Luther Rabb, in particular, would go on to form the band Ballin’ Jack and later tour with Santana and War.