Interview with Sheena Spirit

ivan

– 02/02/2008Posted in: Magazine Interviews

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Sheena Spirit, reggae pioneeress, was born in Brooklyn and had the blessed encounter of meeting the legendary King of Reggae, Bob Marley in March of 1976. She was signed to Tuff Gong International in 1979. She performed all over the island with many reggae giants, to include Bob, Dennis Brown, Third World, Yellowman, Sly and Robbie, Jacob Miller, Black Uhuru, just to name a few

Marco Virgona: Sheena, I know you were very close to Bob
Sheena Spirit: Yes I was very close to Bob: we talked, we sang, we romancedin in a very spiritual way. In fact I’m writing a book called “The blessing of 2 Bobs. It’s a book about my encounter with Bob Dylan and Bob Marley and the iconic journey we all shared together

Marco: Tell me about your encounter with him
Sheena: The first time I met Bob was in New York City, march 26 1976 in the Sheraton Hotel lobby. He was mixing the Rastaman Vibration album. I was making a phone call. I lived next door to the hotel and my phone was not working at the time

Marco: You share the same bill with Bob in Kingston at National Arena in 1979 for a Benefit concert: what do you remember about that event?
Sheena: It was a great event the year of the Rasta child: Black Uhuru, Jacob Miller, Bob and the Wailers and my group Sheena Spirit and the Third Eye was being launched, I was signed to Tuff Gong that year 1979 and it was to introduce the artists of the new record co. It was a benefit concert for the rasta elders of the ethiopian church children. My song Reggae Pounding was making waves in Jamaica so they asked me to perform: it was sensational

Marco: What can you say about bob’s illness? Did you know that Bob was serious ill?
Sheena: I didn’t know Bob was sick until I massaged his feet one day and he had excruciating pain in his toe it had a black mark on it. I asked him what was wrong he said I man no want to talk about it so we left that vibe alone. He was suffering and didn’t want any one to know the great pain he was in at that time. Bob was still pretty much in good shape playing ball soccer every day and working in his studio at night and touring

Marco: Your relationship with Bob: it was a friendship, romantic or what else?
Sheena: My relationship was one of many feelings… we were romantic and loving but not too sexual… he was Jesus Christ to me and I was like Mary Magdalena at his side, he wanted to be close to me but there were so many women and I was very spiritual at that time. He would also say: why you don’t want me to conquer you Sheena?? I would reply and say: no I’ m the Joan of arc, nobody conquers me I’m the conquerer duppy conquerer

Marco: Any particular memory?
Sheena: About my blessed encounters with Bob, I was recollecting the one of last times we spent time together before he collapsed in Central Park… it was in Jamaica at Rita house on Washington Drive. Bob was there and all the children, Ziggy, Steven, Cedella, Rita, Mother Booker, uncle John, Cindy Breakspeare his last love and baby mother who is also Damian’s mom. We were all there to share in his new arrival and blessed celebration of life. Bob was holding Damian so proudly! That day Damian was being christianed, it was in august of 1980; Bob walked over to me with Baby Gong in his arms and said: Look Sheena his hair is so thick and black patting the baby head running his finger through his hair he turned to me and said: He resembles you alot, he looks like your baby I said: you’re so right Bob he is my baby give him to me now. We laughed and then he smiled and pranced along with his last child showing him off loving him kissing him with much affection as other brethren and sistren arrived for the occasion… Bob was in a very happy peaceful mellow mood… that lovely Kingston afternoon and so was I for being there to share in the moment never knowing it was going to be the next to last time I would be sharing life in this great prophets association miss you Bob oh so much as I remember you

Marco: Have you ever jammed/played with Bob? If so, when and where?
Sheena: I spent numerous times together with in, very meditational moments and on stage with him as well yes We jammed together, he loved my guitar and he would call me up and say Bring de oil Sheena and the gits and come so I did I used to massage him and his locks, he needed healing spiritual and physicall healing more than sex from me or shall I say that’s what I wanted to give him for I loved Rita and respected her relationship with him.
We jammed the first night we met I had my guitar with me and went to his room. Familyman Barret was there as well we jammed to the break of dawn I didn’t leave nor could I the vibe was so irieand strong I was at home and it just spiralled from there everytime they came to New York they called I went many are called few were chosen… I was one of the luckiest ones

Marco: Thank you very much for you kindness. I look forward reading your book
Sheena: Peace to you for 2008 let God arise and all his enemies scatter