Greetings,

Livicated, never dedicated to the life and legacy of Bob Marley. Born Feb. 6, 1945; 2020 would have been 75 years

<Livicated nah “dead” icated”; 61 sec.>

Let’s hear some Bob stories from Smile Jamaica’s 20+ years of Marley celebrations.

<Smile Jamaica’s Bob Marley 75 Tribute Show; 62 sec.>

First, watch this amazing clip of Redemption Song put together by the Marley Family

Bob and crew had really crossed over with Uprising. College kids and whites in America always loved Reggae, but blacks in America were rather cool to the music. It’s militancy and Old Testament songbook was out of step with 70’s secular disco and soul stylings.

But a disco mix of Comin’ in From the Cold was starting to be played at the end of the 70’s disco supremacy and even black radio was playing the album in limited rotation.

The year 1980 was gonna be the year the Wailers punched through. Blacks and whites at their North American concerts bringing the masses together in love and unity which would have probably lead to Ronald Reagan’s defeat in November that year and who knows what life would have been like had that scenario come to pass

He would have been on the pantheon of 80’s music titans like Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince. Of that, I am certain.

Alas, it wasn’t to be. Bob collapsed jogging in Central Park….livicated nah dead-icate and come May, 1981 dozens of Bob’s contemporaries crashed the studios to pay homage.

<Bob Marley tribute songs; 27 sec.>

After Bob Marley was nearly assassinated by the CIA (According to Alex Jones and yours truly) at the….wait for it…..Smile Jamaica Concert, Dec. ’76. Bob made his “Exodus” to England.

While recording that landmark album, he was exposed to the punk rock movement happening. Rastas were outcasts in Jamaica. So were the punks in England.

<Bob loved punk rock; 36 sec.>

Set 1:

• Cedella Marley Booker – He’s a Rastaman; Awake Zion (Rykodisc) ’84: Bob’s Mom: 3 hours of Bob Marley 75th Birthday Celebration
• Chalawa – Natural Mystic Dub; Exodus Dub (Weston’s) ’78 Canadian dub of Bob Marley
• Bob Marley & the Wailers – Smile Jamaica; Kaya (Deluxe) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry show theme!
• Macka B – Bob; Hold Onto Your Culture (Ariwa) ’96
• Culture – Double Tribute to the O.M.; Lion Rock (Heartbeat) ’82 – Order of Merit (Jamaica’s highest civilian honor)
• Bob Marley & the Wailers – Easy Skanking; Boston ’78 (Tuff Gong) 6/8/78 live at the Boston Music Hall: 4:20 Cannabis Service Announcement
• Jah Thomas – Tribute to the Reggae King; 12″ (Midnight Rock) ’81 JA

• Set 2:
• Alpha Blondy – Mystic Night Move; Masada (World Enterprise) ’92 Ivory Coast
• Ijahman Levi – Bob and Friends Over There; Inside Out (Jahmani) ’89
• Brigadier Jerry – Tribute to Marley; On the Road (RAS) ’90
• Sue Chaloner – Missin’ Mr. Marley; 12″ (CNR) ’84 Neth.

Set 3: Best of 30+ Years of Bob Marley Tributes

• Mikey Dread – In Memory (Jacob, Marcus, Marley); S.W.A.L.K. (Heartbeat) ’82 Best of Smile Jamaica 30+ Years Set
• Sister Carol – Dedicated to Bob Marley; Black Cinderella (Jah Life/Heartbeat) ’84
• Bunny Wailer – Stay With the Reggae; Marketplace (Shanachie) ’85
• Prince Far I – Tribute to Bob Marley; Voice of Thunder (Trojan) ’83
• Barrett Brothers – Bradsta Dub; Macka Dub (Clocktower) ’80 Familyman & Carly of the Wailers. Dub album of  the hour

Set 4: 7″ Jamaican Jukebox Bob Marley Tributes

• The I Three – He’s  a Legend; 7″ (Tuff Gong) ’86 7″ 
• Prince Ital Joe – I Miss Mr. Marley; 7″ (Royal Safari Music)
• Errol Scorcher – Sounds of Hon. Marley; 7″ (Dance Hall) ’82
• Toots & the Maytals – Marley’s Gone (His Songs Live On); 7″ (Louv) 8/4/82 live at Reggae Sunsplash

Set 5: Vinyl Tributes to Bob Marley

• Bankie Banx – Remember Bob; Soothe Your Soul (Redemption) ’82 Antigua
• Papa Finnigan & Junior Ranking – Tribute to Bob Marley; Two the Hard Way (Heartbeat) ’83 Cambridge, MA
• Shaka Man – If It Wasn’t For the Rastaman (Tribute to Bob); 2030 A.D. (Majicaa) 80’s Los Angeles
• Carlton Livingston – Tribute to Bobby; Soweto (El Bebo International) ’81 DC

Set 6:

• Judy Mowatt – Joseph; Black Woman (Shanachie) ’76 – Bob as biblical prophet
• Ky-Mani Marley; Dear Dad; CD Single (Gee Street) ’98 Bob’s son
• Abyssinians – Jah Marley; Last Days (Tabou1) ’99
• Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster (Jammin’); Hotter Than July + dub 7″ (Tamla) ’81

Set 7:

• Randeesh – Bob Marley is a River of Love; Courage (Mountain Lion) 2004 Canada
• Isaac Haile Selassie – Dear Bob; CD Single (Resin Music) ’99
• Bob Marley & the Wailers – Punky Reggae Party; CD Single (Tuff Gong) ’77 Lee “Scratch” Perry mix

Set 8:

• Bob Marley & the Wailers – Iron, Lion, Zion; CD Single (Tuff Gong) ’92
• Everton Blender – Bob; Piece of the Blender (Heartbeat) ’96
• Alpha & Omega – Freedom Fighters; Sound System Anthology (ROIR) ’95
• Winston Groovy – Nightshift; 12″ (Sound City) ’85 Commodores cover

Words of Wisdom: