Linton Kwesi Johnson, author of this book’s introduction, is the poet laureate of the reggae movement, an award-winning writer who is the genre’s finest voice. We’ve known each other since 1982, and his acceptance of my invitation to do this still leaves me stunned and humbled.
Others who have helped in a wide variety of ways include Jessica Friedman and Laura Goldin, whose advice was invaluable. At Norton, I am deeply grateful to all who assisted in the design, editing and marketing of this book: Sarah Bolling, Don Rifkin, Elisabeth Kerr, Mary Kate Skehan, Allegra Huston, Ingsu Liu, Eleen Cheung, Louise Mattarelliano, Anna Oler, Kyle Radler, Steve Colca, Meredith McGinnis and Bill Rusin.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to one of the finest men I have ever encountered in my life, my original editor and sponsor of this project, W. W. Norton’s vice president Jim Mairs. Throughout all the computer crashes and other setbacks he remained constant and encouraging and never let me lose sight of our goal. At the very end, as he neared retirement after a long and distinguished career at America’s oldest independent publishing house, he turned the book over to a terrific young senior editor, Tom Mayer. Tom, himself a roots band veteran and deeply knowledgeable about all things reggae, spent the past two years directing the final shaping of this book which, he said proudly, he “was born to edit.” My appreciation for both these learned men is beyond words.
Sadly, Jim passed away in 2016, but his spirit and guidance is alive in these pages.
LIST OF INTERVIEWEES
Al Anderson
Esther Anderson
Bob Andy
Carlton Barrett
Aston “Family Man” Barrett
George Barrett
Pablove Black
Chris Blackwell
Cedella Booker
Junior Braithwaite
Cindy Breakspeare
Errol Brown
Carl Colby
Allan “Skill” Cole
Charlie Comer
Cat Coore
Glen DaCosta
Stephen Davis
Coxson Dodd
Tyrone Downie
Alton Ellis
Bobby Ellis
Dr. “Pee Wee” Fraser
Lars Fyledal
Gilly Gilbert
Cherry Green
Norman St. John Hamilton
Dr. Steve Heilig
Joe Higgs
Dermot Hussey
Lee Jaffe
Dickie Jobson
Beverley Kelso
King Sporty
Colin Leslie
Jim Lewis
Earl “Wya” Lindo
Christopher Marley
Bob Marley
Cedella Marley
Rita Marley
Stephen Marley
Ziggy Marley
Junior Marvin
Dr. Gayle McGarrity
Judy Mowatt
Jimmy Norman
John Pareles
Alvin “Seeco” Patterson
Stefan Paul
Karl Pitterson
Ibis Pitts
Mortimo Planno
Bernard Purdie
Ras Michael
Kate Simon
Danny Sims
Donnice Sims
Eddie Sims
Dessie Smith
Matthew Smith
Bruce Talamon
Dr. Lowell Taubman
Don Taylor
Dennis Thompson
Dera Tompkins
Peter Tosh
Joe Venneri
Bunny Wailer
Constantine “Dream” “Vision” Walker
Jeff Walker
Segree Wesley
Neville Willoughby
Betty Wright
Zema
INDEX
Page numbers listed correspond to the print edition of this book. You can use your device’s search function to locate particular terms in the text.
Page numbers in italics refer to illustrations.
Abyssinians, 369
Adams, Glen, 117, 119, 127
Africa, xiii, xxv, 21, 165, 202, 206, 223, 257, 266, 278, 303–4, 305, 325, 326, 347, 348, 350, 356
BM’s trips to, 312–14, 336–45, 346
liberation movement in, 301
“Africa Unite” (song), 301, 347
Afro-American Studies Center, 326
Alderson, Richard, 100
Ali, Muhammad, 97
Alphonso, Roland, 29, 44
Althea and Donna, 293
Alton and Eddie, 41
Amandla benefit, 403, 404
“Ambush In The Night” (song), 195
America Jamaica United, 387
American Film Institute, xxiii
American Institute of Science, 391
Am-Jam United, 286
Anderson, Al, 195, 203, 204, 207, 258, 268, 270–71, 272–73, 307, 328, 335, 352, 403, 404
Anderson, Esther, 161, 165, 180, 190, 192
BM’s relationship with, 159
in collaboration with BM, 160, 161–62, 163
Anderson, Gladstone, 115
Anderson, Rita, see Marley, Rita Anderson
Anderson, Yvette Morris, 180, 346, 388
“And I Love Her” (song), 47
Andy, Bob, 47, 57–58, 57, 61, 63, 151
“Another One Bites the Dust” (song), 381–82, 383
Apollo Theater, 327, 331–33, 334, 335, 349
Armone, Joe, 373–74
ASCAP, 147
Asfa Wossen, Crown Prince of Ethiopia,
279
Asher, Dick, 140, 141, 145, 147
Aspen, Colo., 6, 60, 60
Atlantic Records, 100, 103
Australia, 286, 387
Austria, 394
Average White Band, 368
Babylon by Bus (album), 283, 306, 307, 308–9
“Babylon Feel This One” (song), 324
Back O’ Wall, 10, 18, 25, 40
“Bad Card” (song), 190
Bahamas, 254, 264
“Bangarang” (song), 119
Barrett, Aston “Family Man,” xxiii, xxv, 117–19, 118, 127, 128, 138, 142, 145, 151, 156, 157, 159–60, 163, 164, 173, 177, 179, 203, 204, 207, 211, 224, 231, 235, 236, 238, 243, 248, 250, 251, 268, 272, 273, 300, 328–29, 352, 377, 403, 404, 405
Barrett, Carlton “Carly,” xxv, 117–19, 118, 128, 138, 142, 145, 152, 159, 179, 207, 211, 224, 238, 248, 250, 251, 273, 274, 352, 403, 404
Barrett, George, 117, 118, 129, 130–32
Barretto, Ray, 229
Basing Street Studios, 158, 267
Bass, Charlie, 127–28
Battle of the Giants show, 68–70
BBC, 111, 152
Beat, The, xxiii, 69, 134, 228, 287, 349
Beatles, 47, 56, 87, 113, 157, 168, 274
Beck, Jeff, 270
Before the Legend (Farley), xxv
Belafonte, Harry, 27–28, 100
“Bend Down Low” (song), 81–82, 136–37, 142
Bergman, Ingmar, 134
Berkeley, Calif., 309, 310
Berry, Chuck, 202
Bertram, Arnold, 219
Best of the Wailers (album), 113, 115–16
“Be There When I Come” (song), 25
Beverley’s (record label), 16, 22, 108, 113, 114, 164
Beverly Johnson Guide to Health and Beauty, The, 286
Bible, 71, 77, 318, 364, 404
Big Youth, 293
Billboard, 300, 408
Bill Graham Presents (Greenfield), xxiv
Birth of a Legend (album), 212–13
Black, Pablove, 195–97, 196, 219–20, 222–24, 233–34, 239
on BM assassination attempt, 230
on BM’s decision to do Smile Jamaica concert, 240, 242
on motive for BM assassination attempt, 257, 258
on Smile Jamaica concert, 247, 248, 251, 253
Black, Solomon, 4
“Black Cinderella” (song), 128
Blackheart Man, 2
Blackheart Man (album), 182, 307
Black Man, 204
Black Music, xx
Black Music Association, 349
Black Power movement, 14, 74, 79, 127
“Black Survival” (song), 367
Blackwell, Chris, xv, 81, 109, 126, 138, 139, 150–51, 152, 155, 159, 160, 185, 189, 199, 210, 234, 251, 268–69, 274, 307–8, 319, 372, 386, 389
Bahamas studio of, 254
and BM assassination attempt, 225–26, 230, 231, 236
BM’s contract acquired by, 147–48, 213
BM’s relationship with, 208, 277–78, 323–24
BM’s toe injury and, 283–84, 286
and breakup of Wailers, 166–68
Cliff and, 176, 177
commercial focus of, 180
Hope Road sold to BM by, 199, 222
Marvin and, 268, 270
piracy charges against, 145–46
“Redemption Song” and, 364
in royalties disputes with Wailers, 149–50, 163–64, 269
as Smile Jamaica film producer, 228–29, 232, 233, 236, 260–61
Black Woman (album), 316–18
Blake, Duane, 373
Blake, Vivian, 373
“Blood Stain” (song), 60
Blues Busters, 41
Bobbitt, Charles, 336, 340, 341
Bob Marley (Davis), xxv, 128
Bob Marley: Spirit Dancer (Talamon and Steffens), 328
Bob Marley: Stay with the Rhythm (unreleased documentary), 401
Bob Marley and the Wailers, 185–87, 207, 208–11, 214–15, 216–18, 225, 226, 240, 242–43, 255, 264, 268, 274, 278, 308, 326, 348, 363–64, 385
BM’s cancer and, 381
Gabon trip of, 336–45
I Three as backup singers for, 184–85
in London, 270
Marvin’s joining of, 270–73
1975 tour of, 202–4
1976 tour of, 210, 214, 221
1977 tour of, 282–83
in 1978 world tour, 306–7, 309–12
in 1979 North American tour, 327–29, 330–36, 349
in 1980 tour, 367–68, 371–84
in One Love Peace Concert, 288–304
as opener for Commodores, 372, 373, 375–77
Pittsburgh (last) show of, 381–82, 387
in Zimbabwe independence tour, 347, 351–62
see also Wailers (original lineup); Wailers Band
Bob Marley and the Wailers: The Definitive Discography (Steffens and Pierson), xxiii
Bob Marley Music, 276
Bongo, Omar, 336, 337, 339, 345
Bongo, Pascaline and Albertine, 336, 337, 339, 341
Booker, Cedella Malcolm Marley, xvii, xxiv, 1–2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 17, 67, 68, 106, 107–8, 198, 214, 266, 274, 280, 287, 298, 364, 365, 396, 399
Booker, Edward, 68
Book of Exodus, The (Goldman), xxv
Box Tops, 104
Boys Town, 64, 85, 283
Braithwaite, Junior, 12, 13, 17, 21, 25–26, 28, 31, 33, 36, 37, 39, 40–41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 190, 397–98
Braithwaite, Zebedee, 25
Bramwell, Ermine, see Green, Cherry
Brando, Marlon, 160, 165
Brazil, 139, 325
Breakspeare, Cindy, xvii, 98, 192, 199, 274, 282–83, 324, 394
BM’s breakup with, 370–71
on BM’s cancer, 285, 388, 390–91
on BM’s generosity, 321–22
on BM’s last day, 397
BM’s love affair with, 198, 200–201, 206, 220, 221, 264, 265, 266, 267–68, 279–80
BM’s politics influenced by, 266
on BM’s toe injury, 282–83
Hope Road apartment of, 198, 199–200
as JLP supporter, 265
as Miss World, 198, 199, 201, 203, 221, 264, 265–66, 267
Breakspeare, Stephen “Reds,” 165, 192, 199
Brevett, Lloyd, 44
Brief History of Seven Killings, A (James), 259
Brocetti, Fred, 229, 232, 237, 239, 247, 250
Brown, Dennis, 130
Brown, Errol, 322–23, 348, 363–64
on final show, 383–84
on Madison Square Garden shows, 376
on 1980 tour, 367, 368, 374
on Zimbabwe tour, 353, 354, 355
Brown, Hux, 115
Brown, James, 127, 336, 340
Brown, Jim, 257
Brown, Phil, 159
Bucknor, Siddy, 37
“Buffalo Soldier” (song), 56, 332
Bundrick, Johnny “Rabbit,” 135, 136
Bunny and Skully, 41
Burbank, Calif., 311
“Burial” (song), 47–48, 90
Burnin’ (album), 157, 158–66, 161, 169, 174, 180–82, 408
“Burnin’ And Lootin’” (song), 163–64, 212, 303
Burning Spear, 369
Buster, Prince, 146, 289
Butler, Delroy, 195
California, 210, 306, 308–9, 326
California, University of, at Los Angeles (UCLA), 327
calypso, 24
Campbell, Charles, 216, 219
Campbell, Dennis “Ska,” 44
Campbell, Horace, 354
Canada, 99, 254, 291, 296, 297
Capitol Records building, 174
Caribbean, 75, 107, 108, 109, 139, 160, 291
Caribbean Preserving, 53
Carib Theatre, 42, 198
Castellano, Paul, 373–74
Catch A Fire (album), xix, 138, 151–52, 155–56, 157, 158, 159, 170, 175, 185, 198, 250
“Caution” (song), 113, 114
Caymanas Park, 258
Cayman Islands, 94–95
Cayman Music, 94–95, 133, 140, 147, 390
CB Enterprises, 274
CBS Records, see Sony Records
Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (Miami), 284, 286
Central Park, N.Y., 186, 378, 379, 380, 382, 384, 388
Chaio (studio engineer), 323
“Chances Are” (song), 104
Charles, Chili, xxii, 311
Charles, Prince of Wales, 351–52, 356, 357, 358
“Cheer Up” (song), 113, 115
Chicago, Ill., 42, 137, 394
Chieftains, 274
Chin, Randy, 96, 99–100, 101
Chosen Few, 130
Christians, 184, 389
CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), xiii, xxv, 73, 260, 261, 262, 263, 287
accused of involvement in BM assassination attempt, 227–28
Cimarons, 251
Clapton, Eric, 147, 160, 202
Clarendon, Jamaica, 1
Clarke, Sebastian, 167
“Clean Up Woman” (song), 331
Cliff, Jimmy, xx, 145, 148, 159, 175, 176–77
Club 21, 130
Coasters, 101
Cockburn, Alex, 165
Coghile, Leghorn, 177–78
Colby, Carl, 227–30, 228, 236–39, 247, 248
accused of involvement in BM assassination attempt, 259–63
BM film interview by, 239, 261
on BM’s strength of character, 262
on motive for assassination attempt, 259–60
on Smile Jamaica concert, 245–46, 249–50, 252–53
on Smile Jamaica film, 232–33, 236–37
Colby, William, 227, 260, 261, 262, 263
Cole, Allan “Skill,” xvii, 15, 113–14, 202, 207, 312, 313, 372, 373, 374
on BM’s adolescence, 14–15
and BM’s cancer, 378–82, 384, 390, 391, 394
BM’s friendship with, 14, 110–11, 194–95, 214, 255
on BM’s generosity, 320–21
on BM’s relationship with Sims and Nash, 133–34
as possible target of assassination attempt, 224, 255, 256–57
on pressure felt by BM, 84–85
in Twelve Tribes, 214, 219
as Wailers manager, 107, 111–12, 137–39
Cole, Nat King, 28
Cole, Stranger, 119
&
nbsp; Columbia Records, see Sony Records
Comer, Charlie, 274–76, 275, 293
“Coming In From The Cold” (song), 363, 366
“Comma Comma” (song), 90, 100
Commodores, 275–77, 371, 372, 373
Communists, Communism, 79, 266, 312, 313, 346
Compass Point studio, 254
Complete Bob Marley and the Wailers 1967–1972 (box set), 102, 139
“Concrete Jungle” (song), 331
Confrontation (album), 404–5
Constantine, Alex, 260, 261
Cooper, Michael “Ibo,” 171, 251
Coore, Cat, xvii, 51, 121, 129–30, 131, 170, 171, 195, 235, 248, 251
on BM’s Smile Jamaica performance, 250
on motive for assassination attempt, 258–59
on Smile Jamaica concert, 242–44
copyright law, 176–77
“Could You Be Loved” (song), 348, 372–73, 376
Count Nick the Champ (sound system), 24
Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, xix, 17, 120
Cowan, Tommy, 316, 352, 354
Cowsills, 104
“Crazy Baldhead” (song), 208
Criteria Studios, 208, 210
Crocker, Frankie, 371, 372
“Cry Baby” (song), 32
“Crying In The Chapel” (song), 110
Crystal Palace, 368
Cuba, 1, 79, 132, 346, 347
Cuthell, Dick, 268
DaCosta, Glen, 224, 334–35
Daley, Lloyd “Matador,” 119
Daley, Richard, 248
“Dancing Shoes” (song), 60
Dark, Frankie, 110
Darlington, Mrs., 23–24
Davis, Clive, 145
Davis, Sangie, 196–97, 316, 324–25
Davis, Stephen, xxv, 128, 216–17, 225, 231, 239, 254, 256, 257, 258
“Day Dreaming” (song), 103
Dean’s (sound system), 24
Dekker, Desmond, 16, 100, 113, 159
de Kooning, Willem, 237
Delaware, BM in, 4, 59, 68–69, 73, 76, 80, 87, 107, 283, 316, 399
Demme, Jonathan, 401
Desmond Dekker and the Aces, 100, 113
Diddley, Bo, 202
Dion and the Belmonts, 32, 47
Dizzy’s (club), 265
Dodd, Clement “Coxson,” 23, 29, 30–33, 32, 37, 40, 45, 48, 49–50, 51, 52, 53, 61, 67, 68, 77–78, 113, 114, 117, 121, 132, 141, 152
on Birth of a Legend album, 212–13
So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley Page 43
