"Chronological birth-to-death sketch of Jamaica s premier musician. St. Kitts-based journalist Steckles, one of the reggae icon s more devout devotees, has spent countless moons cataloging all forms of Bob Marley minutiae. From an overview of Wailers' producer Lee Scratch' Perry and his notorious royalty rip-offs to a reexamination of the night Marley took a bullet in the arm from an unknown assassin, Steckles squeezes in all the necessary info for Zion Lion neophytes... immensely fresh. ...Make no mistake, this debut author can turn a phrase...brimming over with excellent trivia."—Kirkus Reviews
Bob Marley
“In writing this most recent biography, Steckles, a journalist covering reggae and Caribbean culture internationally, had access to the largest Marley archive… well written.”—Library Journal
“Of all the millions of words written about the Jamaican Rasta reggae hero, this book encapsulates the most concise and complete information about Marley … If you want to place a Marley biography in your library, this is the one to buy.”—Barbara Makeda Blake Hannah, Rastafarian scholar and journalist
One of the twentieth century’s most iconic cultural figures, Bob Marley was responsible for popularising reggae music throughout the world. His unique blend of politically conscious lyrics and melody won him legions of fans far beyond the Caribbean. But Marley was no mere pop star: his strong attachment to Rasta beliefs and practices and his fierce hostility to the injustice of ‘Babylon’ made him an important spokesman for the dispossessed. In this new biography, Garry Steckles follows Marley’s eventful life through the early days in rural Jamaica, arrival in Kingston, first recordings and performances to his spectacular status as an international superstar. Throughout he analyses Marley’s political and religious beliefs, while also concentrating on his relationships with fellow musicians, family and influential figures such as Chris Blackwell. A chapter focusing on Marley’s long-term legacy explores what the musician contributed to world music and what the religious believer gave to Rastafarianism.
Garry Steckles has worked as a newspaper editor in England, Canada, Barbados and the United States. He has written about reggae and all aspects of Caribbean culture in major newspapers and magazines in North America and the Caribbean.
Caribbean Lives Series