The World Of Reggae
Featuring Bob Marley
http://niceup.com/press_release2.html
http://www.jahworks.org/music/concert/bob_marley_exhibit.html
The World of Reggae is a major exhibition
currently in Los Angeles on board the Queen Mary. The book that goes with
is an amazing piece of art in itself. Every single major reggae image that
you can think of is in it. Compiled by Roger Steffens who's love and
knowledge of reggae music - goes beyond any title - and when he brings it
all together as he as done in the book - which represents only a fraction
of what is in the exhibition - it turns into a true event. In the 96 pages
of the book which is album sized. You get chapters on Ska, Rock Steady,
Reggae, Dub, Reggae Goes International, DJs, Doe Poetry, Reggae Goes
Dancehall - everything. Labels, Badges, Covers, Posters, Stamps, Medals.
Bob Marley, Bunny Wailers, Peter Tosh and The Wailers are well featured -
that was to be expected. Roger's well respected, and he knows how to repay
respect to those that have made that the music what it is today.
Go to the exhibition if you can - and buy the book when it goes on sale,
if you can't.
The Harder They Come film poster was one of the first truly international reggae images. The World Of Reggae book shows this by giving us at least three more versions of the film poster. The film made Jimmy Cliff an even bigger star than he was at the time. But it also provided the first real insights into the nature of the rip off culture that was and still is reggae music.
Rockers the next big
reggae film, was less successful but brought the then current crop of
reggae stars to the fore. The poster relected a sense of unity that was
present in the music at the time. Anything and everything seemed possible.
But both these films were about hope - and they gave reggae fans plenty of
that.