Muhammad Ali 20 Years Ago Today at Govinda Gallery
Muhammad Ali and David Murray greeting each other with gallery director Chris Murray looking on. September 21, 1995 Copyright © Govinda Gallery Archive. All Rights Reserved.
Malcolm X walking the streets of Harlem with Muhammad Ali, 1963 Copyright © Howard Bingham. All Rights Reserved.
Muhammad Ali with his two boxing heroes Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Lewis, Los Angeles 1962 Copyright Howard Bingham..
It was twenty years ago today that Muhammad Ali came to Govinda Gallery to launch his best friend Howard Bingham’s photography exhibition. That exhibition, Muhammad Ali: A Thirty-Year Journey, was also the 20th anniversary celebration for Govinda Gallery, which was established in 1975. Though Govinda Gallery was fortunate to experience so many extraordinary highlights, I would have to say as gallery director that Muhammad Ali’s visit to Govinda was for me the single most exciting night at a Govinda Gallery event. Everyone was blown away to meet the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali. He was the most charismatic, magnanimous, and fun-loving person to grace Govinda Gallery. And Howard Bingham’s photographs were amazing. Here are a couple of pictures from that evening including a shot of Howard Bingham’s inscription to gallery director Chris Murray in his book, Muhammad Ali: A Thirty-Year Journey, along with Muhammad Ali’s signature. It was a great honor to take Ali and Howard Bingham to dinner at Jimmy Bank’s Hibiscus Cafe on K St. after the opening.
Lewiston, Maine 1965 after knocking out Sonny Liston. Copyright © Howard Bingham. All Rights Reserved.
Muhammad Ali performing a magic trick for the Govinda Girls Copyright © Govinda Gallery Archive. All Rights Reserved.
Chris Murray assisting Muhammad Ali with his jacket while Howard Bingham looks on. Copyright © Govinda Gallery Archive. All Rights Reserved.