Bob Marley
A Life
By Garry Steckles
"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 have never heard or read about Bob Marley, this book is the best place to begin…. For someone like myself who knew Marley personally and has read nearly everything ever written about him, the book makes me feel like I’m reading about Bob Marley for the first time… 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 popularizing reggae music throughout the world. His concerts set attendance records that still stand today, and his 1977 Exodus album was hailed by Time magazine as the greatest album of the 20th century. His unique blend of politically conscious lyrics and unforgettable melodies won him legions of fans far beyond the Caribbean. But Marley was no mere pop star: his strong attachment to Rasta beliefs, and his fierce hostility to the injustice of "Babylon" made him an important spokesperson for the dispossessed all over the globe.
In this fresh new biography, Garry Steckles follows Marley’s eventful life through the early days in rural Jamaica; his arrival in Kingston, the first recordings and performances, his spectacular rise to international superstardom, and his untimely death. Throughout, he analyzes Marley’s political and religious beliefs, while also concentrating on his relationships with fellow musicians, family, and influential figures. He documents Marley’s often turbulent relationships with reggae legends like studio pioneer Clement "Coxson" Dodd, fellow Wailers Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, and the wildly eccentric producer Lee "Scratch" Perry; introduces behind-the-scenes legends like Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and the volatile PR genius Charles Comer, and takes you on the Rasta roller coaster that carried Marley to international status and the cover of Rolling Stone. A chapter focusing on Marley’s long-term legacy explores what the musician contributed to world music and what the religious believer gave to Rastafari.
Garry Steckles has had a long career as a newspaper editor in the US, England, Canada, and Barbados. He has written about reggae and all aspects of Caribbean culture in major newspapers and magazines in North America, the UK, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Bob Marley: A Life
By Garry Steckles
Interlink Books, an imprint of Interlink Publishing Group, Inc.
Biography/Music • 6" x 9" • 228 pages • b&w photos
ISBN 978-1-56656-733-6 • trade paperback • $17.00
46 Crosby Street · Northampton MA 01060-1804 · Tel: (413) 582 7054 · Fax: (413) 582 7057
Publicity Contact: Moira Megargee · [email protected] · www.interlinkbooks.com