William Paul Gottlieb (1917-2006) was an American photographer and journalist who is best known for his iconic portraits of jazz musicians during the 1930s and 1940s. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gottlieb studied economics at Lehigh University before pursuing a career in journalism. He began his career as a writer for the Washington Post and later became a freelance photographer for Down Beat magazine. Gottlieb's photographs captured the essence of the jazz scene during its golden age, featuring legendary musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday. His images were widely published in magazines and newspapers, and have since become iconic representations of the era. In addition to his photography, Gottlieb was also a prolific writer and historian of jazz music. He authored several books on the subject, including "The Golden Age of Jazz" and "Jazz Masters of the Forties". He was also a founding member of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Gottlieb's contributions to the world of jazz photography and journalism have had a lasting impact on the genre, and his work continues to be celebrated and studied today.