Memories of Marley published: Wednesday | February 6, 2008
Robert Lalah, Assistant Editor - Features BOB MARLEY Copyright?: BOBMARLEYMAGAZINE FORUM http://www.bobmarleymagazine.com/forum_bmwm/showthread.php?t=3119 In recognition of the anniversary of the birth of reggae icon, The Gleaner spoke to some of the people who knew him best, to get their 'memories of Marley'.
'Cat' first met Bob Marley when he was only 11 years old. Both of them were born in Rhoden Hall, St Ann, and moved to Kingston in search of a better life. He lived in the same yard in Trench Town as the reggae singer for several years.
"Well, living among Bob Marley was like living in a temple. There was something special about him that we who lived around him could see from even those days. Bob was special. Him did have an inborn conception for truth and justice. I remember when I was younger, I borrow a penny from my father to watch Bob perform and from that time, I realise that Bob was Christ in his kingly character.
Bob opened the way for reggae Rastafari and for Jamaica. My father used to tell me that Robby was going to be big one day. Now it come to pass. The world come to see what we saw from long time. Bob Marley is more than a singer. He is a spiritual father."
Veteran musician Tommy Cowan worked with Bob Marley for several years. Cowan was a member of the famed 1960s group, 'The Jamaicans', when he first met Marley. They were both fighting hard at that time to make it big in the music. Cowan would later become part of the Tuff Gong family, working and travelling with Marley as marketing manager of the company.
"One of the greatest things about Bob was that he realised and demonstrated that it is the effect that you have on other people's lives that is important, not money and fame. Many people still do not understand the impact that this man had on people across the world. I remember that in Rhodesia, a person could be imprisoned if found in possession of a Marley album. They would get two years if it was the Kaya album.
In France, when we got done with a shows and went back to the hotel, there was a crowd of women there at 3:00 a.m., waiting for Bob. All they wanted was for him to touch their babies' heads. We were not allowed to drive on the roads of Paris without a police escort because of the chaos Bob's presence would cause. At a concert in Milano, Italy, the soldiers had to literally lift cars out of the way to allow us to get through. They actually picked up the cars and moved them! In that town we attracted a crowd bigger than the Pope did. There was another town in Italy whose mayor paid us not to perform because of the crowd control that would be required."
Lorna Wainwright is manager of the Tuff Gong Recording Studio on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. She first met Bob Marley while living next to him on Hope Road, St Andrew.
"I used to climb up in a tree and look over. I was fascinated with the family at the time. I remember the day that Bob saw me and asked me my name. Soon after that, he saw me again and he asked me why I was looking so sad. I told him that I had gone on an interview at IBM that day, and I could tell that I wasn't going to get the job.
Copyright?: BOBMARLEYMAGAZINE FORUM http://www.bobmarleymagazine.com/forum_bmwm/showthread.php?t=3119
I told him that I was sure that the reason I wasn't going to get the job was because I wore locks. I told him that I was frustrated because employers were not looking beyond the locks. All they wanted to know was that I was a Rasta and that was the end of it. I remember clearly what Bob said to me next. He said I should not worry because one day he would start a company that would be owned and run by Rasta. Then, he said, I would have no problem getting a job." robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com
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FORMER ZANU PF secretary general, Edgar Tekere, recounted recently how he invited the late legendary reggae icon Bob Marley to Zimbabwe's Independence celebrations in 1980.
"Bob Marley was my guest. I was responsible for looking after him, I invited him for the celebrations," said Tekere to a raucous response from journalists who packed the Ambassador Hotel's Quill Club. "I sent out two people to Jamaica, Job Kadengu and Godern Muchanyuka. Each one of us who was in government at that time had an opportunity to invite two guests paid for by the state," he said.
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Tekere, who spoke passionately about Marley, said a Serbian friend, Olivier Jovanovich who is now at the Serbian embassy in Pretoria helped him hook up with Marley. "The whole affair was organised by Richard Hove who was taking care of the finances. I liked music and sometimes I could take time off and go to Londoner to enjoy music," said Tekere.
Tekere also said that he had a very good relationship with the then Prime Minister of Jamaica, Michael Manley who helped facilitate Bob Marley's trip to Zimbabwe.
"Manley told me a lot about Bob Marley's expenditure on the poor. He told me that at any given time there were hundreds of poor people feasting at his house. The guy was a friend to Marley," said Tekere.
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Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy, your search for happiness will never end (bob marley)
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Re: Memories of Marley
another about Bob in zimbabwe:
Irene Poole: I met Bob Marley in 1980 at Skyline Motel where Bob Marley and the Wailers were staying. They were in Zims for the Independence Celebrations. At the time the Zimbabwe National Foortball Team the Mick was Managing were also at the Motel. What a wonderful and interesting exprerience. I heard this song off of my friend Nancy's Bob Marley Album that she had asked Mick to get Bob to autograph. (Smart Girl) And here I was - sleepy, Dozy - ain't even the words to describe me - not even a signature from the Great Man. Not even a photo. Were were sitting at the same Dining room table with him and his entourage and the National Team and their families and my little family - I only had Trish then - she was 4 years old! And as if that was not enough - Mick arranged for Bob and his 'Team' to play a social football match at the Italian Club and drinks later etc as usual! Did I get a photo with Bob: no!!!!! Did I aks for his autograph- No!!!! That is dumber and dumber of the highest degree. Here I was - next to an ICON - a LEGENd of the Music Business and acting like 'Oh he's just my neighbour - I'll see him again tomorrow!!!!' I have kicked myself a thousand times about my DA!!!! I do not possess a single momento of this historic time!!! Oh well -there you go - an opportunity of opportunities MISSED!!!! - by me.
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Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy, your search for happiness will never end (bob marley)
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