Vote Bob Marley in 2008!

Article by Christopher J. Farley
New Bob Marley Book: Before the Legend

This week, the New York Times published a story reporting that folk-rocker Neil Young was set to release a new politically-charged album that was "overtly partisan."

Pearl Jam, the Seattle-based rock band, just came out with a single, "World Wide Suicide," that seems to be critical of President Bush's handling of the Iraq War.

In recent years, a number of country singers have released songs praising the president and the troops and the conduct of the war.

Politics has returned to music. It never really left, but the Iraq War has put it on the radio, on the charts and in the mainstream media.

It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a war to raise the voices of political songwriters.

So it's a good time to look back at the greatest political singer-songwriter in music history: Bob Marley. May 11th is the 25th anniversary of the reggae singer's death.

Like a great politician, Marley transcended politics. In many ways he was like Barack Obama with a guitar. And dreadlocks. And a spliff.

Well, maybe he wasn't that much like Obama, but you get what I'm going for here.

Marley could have toured the red states and the blue states. He could have toured the magenta states too, if they had them.

It's hard to find people that hate Bob Marley.

I once did an interview with Bob Dylan and the subject of Marley and his songwriting came up. Dylan told me "Bob Marley's music isn't political. Bob Marley's music is universal."

And, of course, the other Bob was right. Dylan did write "Like a Rolling Stone," after all, so he knows a little something about songcraft.

Marley's genius is like that of William Faulkner or James Joyce: he made the local into the universal.

Marley is also a lot more fun to dance to than Faulkner or Joyce.

I once saw an interview in which someone referred to Canada as the Bob Marley of countries. In other words, the speaker was using Marley as symbol for something innocuous, inoffensive, and easy-going.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

They have a word they use in Jamaica, "Irie." It means many things, but it also means that things are doing alright. How you doing? Irie, mon.

Marley found the perfect blend of ire and irie.

Many of his songs--"Babylon System," "Get Up Stand Up," "War," "Rat Race"--are filled with incendiary lyrics.

Just Google them, you'll see.

If you're Googling them in China, I'd be careful.

Many of today's partisan singers, on either side of the issues, miss the main point of political songwriting.

Marley's most political songs are so convincing, so charming, and so righteous, they seem to have no politics at all. They draw you in with their warm grooves, and the sweet melodies make the angry lyrics go down easy.

Great political songwriting shouldn't just enrage--it should enchant.

Marley's music continues to cast a spell over partisans of every stripe.

Christopher John Farley is the author of the new biography "Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley."

Plan to provide genuine alternative sources of energy.

Five cornerstones of John Kerry's 2020 Energy Plan to provide genuine alternative sources of energy.

1. 
   INCENTIVIZING RENEWABLE ENERGY
   More than 20 states have implemented market-based Renewable Energy Portfolio programs that require utilities to gradually increase the portion of electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind, biomass, geothermal, and solar energy. We should build on that success at the national level. Tell your Senators to enact a nationwide Renewable Portfolio Standard so that 20% of our energy comes from renewable sources by 2020. A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that implementing this policy would save $26.6 billion and that commercial and industrial customers would be the biggest winners.
   


2. 
   PROMOTING BIO-ENERGY
   We have the ability to transform our transportation sector from one that fuels our addiction to one that drives us toward a sustainable future. The President should build on that demand and fuel new production opportunities by supporting a mandate that agriculture will provide 20% of the total energy consumed in the United States by 2020.
   



3. 
   INVESTING IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
   In addition to developing new sources of energy, we must make better use of available energy. New technological advances in appliances, energy grid systems, and buildings can boost productivity, create jobs, improve the reliability and safety of the energy infrastructure, and make dramatic inroads in reducing air pollution. Congress should enact energy efficiency measures to decrease energy use by 20% by 2020.
   


4. 
   PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPER-EFFICIENT VEHICLES
   Financial incentives and grants for consumers and for industries that are retooling plants to promote the manufacturing and purchase of hybrid vehicles, which run on a combination of gas and electric power to sharply increase efficiency. Twenty percent of all passenger cars and trucks on the road should be high-efficiency, low emissions hybrids by 2020.
   


5. 
   SETTING AMERICA FREE FROM MIDDLE EAST OIL
   Today, America spends more than $500,000 per minute on foreign oil or $30 million per hour. We paid more than $42 billion for Persian Gulf imports alone in 2005. It is bad enough that these dollars will not help grow our domestic economy - - it is even worse when you consider their impact on our national security. Congress should act to eliminate America's oil imports from the Middle East by 2020.
   

Burning Spear takes Reggae to the People

Jamaican-born artist plays Orange Peel
By Carol Mallett-Rifkin
CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
published: April 14, 2006 6:00 am

"I don't mind" is an expression that Grammy-winning reggae star Burning Spear says a lot in his beautiful sing-song Jamaican voice. It doesn't mean he doesn't care - political activism and songs with a message are at the core of his music. Many fans who flock to hear his music and words weren't even born when Spear began taking Jamaican reggae sounds around the world in the early 1970s. Rock to his reggae next Thursday at The Orange Peel as the legendary artist brings his large band and danceable presence to the stage.
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"Everything I do is based upon a social aspect," Spear said. "People can be people amongst people with no jealousy, anger or greed. I see this as a very important thing for people to know."

Originally born Winston Rodney in the parish of St. Anne's in Jamaica, he's from the same region that produced reggae superstars Bob Marley and the Wailers. "I met him (Marley), that was in 1969; he is from the same parts I am, too," said Spear. "He lived in the countryside, and I lived down in the town. I went to his area and bumped into Bob. He directed me to Studio One and I went and recorded there."

On Marley's recommendation, Spear recorded his first two classic albums at Studio One, "Burning Spear" and "Rocking Time" and went on to record "Marcus Garvey," "Man in the Hills" and "Garvey's Ghost" on Island Records in the '70s, establishing himself internationally.

A string of hits followed, including the Grammy-winning "Calling Rastafari", "Rasta Business", "The World Should Know" and more.

He wears his politics in his name and music. Spear is passionate about clearing the name of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican native (also from St. Anne's Parrish) he feels was wrongly treated in both the U.S. and Jamaica.

"He came to America in the '20s and was there for the African-American people and did a lot of good things for them. At some time, it went wrong and people turned on him. He wanted to show African-American people that they could function as a nation. I think the Jamaican government should set his record free and clear his name," Spear said.

The term Burning Spear is a reference to Jomo Kenyatta, a political activist who championed for a free and democratic Kenya and went on to become that country's first president. Spear adopted it as a band name and then his name.

"I don't mind which you call me," he said.

For close to 20 years, Spear has been living in Queens, N.Y., with his wife and partner Sonia Rodney, creating the Burning Spear record label. Their 2003 "Free Man" was Grammy nominated and their newest release, "Our Music", builds on Spear's tradition of promoting peace and harmony to a danceable groove.

"Well, it's nine of us on stage, we have three guitars, drums, keyboard, a horn section and myself. I'm playing a lot of percussion," said Spear, who says lately his favorite instrument is congas. "They are all young people. It is good to have a lot of young people around you. It's like a family on the road, we're rockin'." Every ticket holder to this show will receive a commemorative Burning Spear at The Orange Peel poster.

With more than 35 years on the road behind him, he is not ready to retire any time soon.

"You have to condition your mind and body to keep it going, be serious about it," said Spear. "I want to continue until the time is right. I am working on my documentary telling the true story about Burning Spear. A lot of people haven't gotten it right. I'm Burning Spear, and I'm telling the story."

Jimmy Cliff's Musical Travels the Hard Road from Film to Stage

By Louise Jury, Arts Correspondent
Published: 07 April 2006

The soundtrack to the cult 1972 film The Harder They Come propelled the young Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff to worldwide fame, and brought reggae to mainstream audiences.

Last night the 61-year-old singer, who helped Bob Marley record his first song, was the guest of honour at the premiere of a new stage version of the film, at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, London.

The show has been adapted by Perry Henzell, the director of the original film, who also attended. Rolan Bell, a young British-born actor of Jamaican descent in only his second professional role, is the new star of a production that has attracted enormous advance bookings, and will play through the summer. It includes many of the best-known songs from the highly influential film soundtrack, including "Many Rivers to Cross" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want", after Cliff and his record label agreed to grant the rights.

Cliff, who played the lead role of Ivanhoe Martin in the original film, said: "I'm pleased to see it happening in London, it's the right place for it."

The story of a country boy who goes to seek his fortune in Kingston, but is exploited and finds himself on the wrong side of the law, the film was a landmark event in Jamaica. On its release in Britain, there was little interest, but a review by the jazz musician George Melly helped it find an audience. It went on to open in America.

"It was the vehicle that propelled me to international stardom. I was known as a singer songwriter before that, but people did not know me as an actor," Cliff said. "It showed the world where the music I contributed to create was coming from. It opened the gates for Jamaican music, internationally."

The soundtrack to the cult 1972 film The Harder They Come propelled the young Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff to worldwide fame, and brought reggae to mainstream audiences.

Last night the 61-year-old singer, who helped Bob Marley record his first song, was the guest of honour at the premiere of a new stage version of the film, at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, London.

The show has been adapted by Perry Henzell, the director of the original film, who also attended. Rolan Bell, a young British-born actor of Jamaican descent in only his second professional role, is the new star of a production that has attracted enormous advance bookings, and will play through the summer. It includes many of the best-known songs from the highly influential film soundtrack, including "Many Rivers to Cross" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want", after Cliff and his record label agreed to grant the rights.

Cliff, who played the lead role of Ivanhoe Martin in the original film, said: "I'm pleased to see it happening in London, it's the right place for it."

The story of a country boy who goes to seek his fortune in Kingston, but is exploited and finds himself on the wrong side of the law, the film was a landmark event in Jamaica. On its release in Britain, there was little interest, but a review by the jazz musician George Melly helped it find an audience. It went on to open in America.

"It was the vehicle that propelled me to international stardom. I was known as a singer songwriter before that, but people did not know me as an actor," Cliff said. "It showed the world where the music I contributed to create was coming from. It opened the gates for Jamaican music, internationally."

Ras Alan Connects Appalachia, Jamaica

By Jedd Ferris
CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
published: April 7, 2006 6:00 am

Ras Alan’s artistic vision revolves around the simplicity of rural life. That’s why he sees the connection between his native Blue Ridge Mountains and the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. For more than two decades he’s used his appreciation of both cultures to continually cultivate his creation of Appalachian Reggae.

Once a musician devoted to old-time and swing jazz, Alan — who grew up in Burke County and now lives just over the state line in Greene County, Tenn. — traveled to Jamaica in 1985 to attend the famed Reggae Sunsplash Festival. It was that trip and the many thereafter to the far reaches of the island’s hills that solidified his musical future.
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“I was raised a Southern Baptist playing gospel and bluegrass,” Alan said. “When I really started checking out Bob Marley, Burning Spear and the Itals, I noticed the biblical words of the Rastafari were similar to what I was raised on. There was a similar passion in the music, and I was instantly attracted to it.”

Alan also saw similarities in rhythm, noticing the chop on the mandolin reminded him of the Stratocaster’s role in island music’s steady pulse.

“I discovered listening to fiddle tunes with a pumping upright bass on someone’s front porch had the same effect as a reggae show.”

As a result, Alan’s been able to blend vintage country and Appalachian folk with the steady grooves of Jamaican ska and roots reggae. Despite seemingly obvious culture clashes, the songwriter’s personal ability to correlate the two genres makes the music breathe with authenticity.

With his homemade acoustic guitar and steady percussive foot box, he revives the dusty mountain ancestry of the Carter Family while bringing a modern context to the soulful social outcry of the Marley message.

“The main connection between Appalachia and Jamaica is the people,” Alan said. “It’s large families that help each other and have had to be creative to sustain and entertain themselves.”

Alan’s work has resonated at home as well. In 2003, he was a breakout performer at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., playing in front of a crowd of tens of thousands. He recorded all of his 10 sets at the event and recently combed through tracks for the live album “Folklife,” which is set for a May release.

The self-proclaimed “Dreadneck” tunesmith also received national attention recently by appearing on a spot of Country Music Television’s “Small Town Secrets” with fellow songwriters Jim Lauderdale and Wayne Henderson.

Jedd Ferris writes about music for the Citizen-Times. E-mail him at jeddferris@gmail.com.

BEFORE THE LEGEND: The Rise of Bob Marley

Bob Marley was a superstar, a musical prophet who brought the unique sounds of reggae, of Jamaica, to the entire globe—to hear his music was to experience the heartbeat, the very breath of a people. His musical style helped to obscure the color line in the music industry at a time when music was often classified within the strict confines of race. BEFORE THE LEGEND: The Rise of Bob Marley (Amistad/HarperCollins; ISBN: 0-06-053991-7; May 2006; $21.95), by acclaimed journalist Christopher John Farley goes beyond the myth to reveal Marley’s private side drawing on interviews from those closest to Marley and information that has not been previously published.

Farley takes the reader on a journey from Bob Marley’s birth in the impoverished town of Nine Miles to his early days as a struggling, talented, determined, and spiritually gifted artist, to the making of his debut album Catch a Fire. BEFORE THE LEGEND features new interviews with bandmate Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley's close family members, including his wife Rita, his mother Cedella, and his children. The book also contains the first-ever published interviews with some of Marley's "white" family members and uncovers fresh information about the reggae great's family history, including the revelation that Marley's father, believed to be white, was actually a person of color. In this first major biography of Bob Marley in more than 20 years, we see Marley as never before: in music, in love, in life, and finally on his wild ride to worldwide acceptance and adoration.

Christopher John Farley, an editor at The Wall Street Journal, is a former Time magazine senior editor and chief music critic who has interviewed a host of major recording stars over his award-winning career, including Bob Dylan, U2, REM, Aretha Franklin, Jay-Z, Joni Mitchell, Lauryn Hill, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, Ziggy Marley, Shakira, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Mary J. Blige and many others. He is the author of several music books, including the national bestseller Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. He is the co-author, along with Peter Guralnick and Robert Santelli, of Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues.

Blackwell's Palm Pics collars Jamaican 'Dogs'

By Gregg Goldstein Tue Mar 7, 5:27 AM ET

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Reggae music kingpin Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures has chased down all worldwide rights to "Sun Dogs," a documentary following the Jamaican Dogsled Team, sponsored by singer
Jimmy Buffett and his company Margaritaville.

The feature follows the canine crew from their native country to the 2006 U.K. championships in Scotland. Currently in production, the film paints a portrait of the human support team that champions the dogs, from Buffett to Devon Anderson, known as Jamaica's "Dr. Dolittle." It also chronicles the trials of stray dogs whose only chance at survival is getting off the country's tough streets and onto the team.

"We saw the footage and thought it was an incredible story that has a lot of humor," Blackwell said in a statement with David Koh, the firm's head of acquisitions and production. "It's the ultimate underdog story with a fierce Jamaican attitude -- a mix of 'Cool Runnings,' 'The Bad News Bears' and 'Dr. Dolittle."'

Palm Pictures, which is financing the project, plans a theatrical release late this year, followed by a DVD and CD soundtrack release on the company's Palm label. Blackwell founded Island Records, which introduced the world to Bob Marley.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter