|
The time was hot. Politics, crimes, violence,
people suffered big time. Something had to be done
and the King of Reggae was needed. However, Bob
Marley was in the UK. He was there for a reason
too: he merely survived after having been shot
himself.
Leaders went to the UK and asked Bob Marley to
help them out. The result was the now famous One
Love concert, where Bob Marley managed to have the
two main political leaders, that split the country
in two, shake hands together.
We see the historical recordings, and are then
taken to an interview with both political leaders.
How do they think about it all, looking back? We
see and hear them as they speak about Bob Marley,
Reggae, and the influence on the political and
social situation.
One of them, before getting into politicks, was
also in the music industry. He worked with Prince
Buster and Duke Reid, but also with Dennis Brown,
the singer who gave the name to this episode of
Deep Roots.
Time to take a closer look to the Music
Business. National and international. We meet up
with the major distributor during a business talk
over the phone. We meet up with producer Harry J
in the studio, too, as he records one of the top
female singers.
The tapes are rolling, as the sistren sings
words of wisdom into the microphone. Producer and
engineer are listening concentrated: this has to
be recorded with the highest care.
Harry J's studio has an Ire Sound, which
attracted Bob Marley and the Wailers. In an
interview, he speaks about his own history as well
as that of Bob Marley as they used his studio.
Just a year after he started off in 1971, they
already wanted him and in 1972 Catch a Fire was
recorded in Harry J's.
This is also where Chris Blackwell enters, the
former owner of Island Studio's who was
influential in selling Reggae Music to a western
audience, by adding all kinds of things to the raw
rhythm. This is where Reggae was indeed made ready
for a world wide audience.
We also hear about a huge argument between the
three original Wailers: Bob, Bunny and Peter.
Chris Blackwell then decided to record Bob Marley separate
from the others. This happened during the
recording of Burnin', the second album. Harry J
was there, when the Wailers became Bob Marley and
the Wailers with the I-Three's on backing vocals.
We see live performances Rita, Marcia and Judy as
well.
With shots of Randy's, the record store,
Mikey Dread introduces us to another influential
female in Reggae Industry: Sonia Pottinger, aka Mrs.
P. As she sits behind her desk, she tries to
explain that for her there is a big difference
between business and religion. Business, being the
music of course.
We then turn to Marcia Griffiths, who is
sitting there with Mrs. P. Before she joined Bob
Marley's backing vocals, she was around Sonia
Pottinger who had already told her that her voice
would get her far. She tells us about the
influence of Bob Marley and the Wailers, of
Reggae, of Music. But when she's asked about her
religion, she looks at Mrs. P and smiles, saying:
"I don't wanna talk about it".
We also meet up with Dennis Brown. The songwriter
is announced as the Prince of Reggae, as he sings
in the studio with only a guitar to accompany
himself.
From the Recording Studio to the Radio Studio,
where a young Deejay is waiting to give some
crucial Rub a Dub style toasting Live and
Direct.
Back to the Recording Studio. Dennis Brown is
ready, waiting to voice another crucial riddim,
this time without guitar. Shots from the
impressive mixing board in the Studio that is getting
rather cloudy...
When the session is over, Dennis Brown is
interviewed. He speaks about his time at Studio
One, which for him was like a college. Coxsone's
Studio is where things took place back in the
1960's, and as Dennis brings up memories, shares reasoning
and singing a bit it becomes clear where the
Prince Of Reggae coming from.
Towards the end of this fifth episode of Deep
Roots, Dennis Brown talks about the song that gave
the title to this hour, after which he ends with a
cry for repatriation.
|
