Interview with Bernard Purdie

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– 05/08/2000Posted in: Magazine Interviews

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Marco Virgona: 1 – Dear Mr Bernard Purdie, we know that you performed with Bob Marley and The Wailers in spring 1968 for producers Danny Sims, Johnny Nash and Arthur Jenkins. Did you ever meet Bob personally in Jamaica?
Yes, I played and recorded with Bob Marley in Jamaica. I had the previlege of having dinner with he and his wife in their home. It was a festive evening; Johnny Nash, Danny Sims and Arthur Jenkins and host of others were also there.

2 – What struck you most? Which is the memory that you cherish most?
I cherish the memory of the very relaxed mode of approaching the music and being allowed our time to get it right.

3 – Have you ever had any further contacts with Bob Marley or Danny Sims or Johnny Nash?
I have had a lot of contact with Johnny Nash and Danny Sims. I have worked with them over the years in the United States.

4 – You performed in studio in 1967-68 with The Wailers (JAD Records published those sessions in 1998 in “The Complete Wailers”: the songs was “What goes around come around”, “Nice time”, “Rocksteady”, “Soul rebel”, “Chances are” and many others). How did you live that experience?
Because of what I had learned with Bob Marley’s musicians, I incorporated so much of the reggae feel in to my music over the years. For example, listen to Aretha Franklin’s “Daydreamer” and “Rocksteady”, Cat Steven’s “Foreigner”, Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack’s “Where is the love?”, to name a few.

5 – Do you like reggae music?
Do I like reggae music? No, I love it! The musicians there taught me the real authentic reggae music, wich usually have percussion played by five different people.

6 – What do you remember about Bob and his music?
His music was always entertaining, with great rythm and exceptional melody. When thinking of Bob, here is a picture that always come to mind. We would leave the studio for a break, Bob would always climb up the hill, find a large rock, lie down upon it, light up, commune with nature and be at peace.

Thank you very much for your kind help. God bless you.