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CELEBRATING BOB MARLEY - 3. BOB MARLEY IN EXILE (320kbs-m4a/129mb/56mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 30th July 2022
Another chance to hear Marcia Griffiths look at Bob Marley's creative period of exile in London, when he recorded the unforgettable Exodus album.
Having made her name with the international 1970 hit Young Gifted and Black, Marcia went on to join the I-Threes, backing the Wailers on tour and on countless classic records. She brings a unique insight to the reggae star's relationship with the UK, which started with Marley's early 1970s visits to record and perform with the Wailers.
The documentary then focuses on 1977, when Marley responded to the shock of an attempt on his life by leaving Jamaica and making London his home for the whole of that memorable year.
In this richly creative, culturally crucial period for Marley, he lived at various London addresses, hanging out with fellow musicians and kindred spirits. He played his beloved football in Hyde Park and other green spaces across the capital; stood as a healing shaman in a city reeling from the 1976 Notting Hill Carnival riots; helped forge the lifelong bond between reggae and punk; and recorded the unforgettable Exodus album, predominantly at Island Records' Basing Street Studios in west London.
The programme features all-new interviews with the musicians, DJs, print and photo journalists and label people who knew, worked and played with Bob during those days; soundtracked by the great music he made and performed as an honorary Brit.
Contributors include reggae DJ David Rodigan; filmmaker, musician and 6 Music presenter Don Letts; former Island staffer John Knowles and music journalist John Shearlaw who share vivid memories of playing 5-a-side football with Bob.
Levi Roots speaks of the Bob he knew in London. And Vivien Goldman - Bob's press officer and confidante - explains why he came to the UK and how his stay influenced the sound of Exodus.
The documentary also examines why Marley eventually quit London to return to Jamaica, the legacy he left behind and what happened on subsequent visits to the UK, as his global status grew to that of a prophet.
CELEBRATING BOB MARLEY - 2. KNOWING BOB MARLEY (320kbs-m4a/128mb/56mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 8th August 2022
Originally broadcast to mark the anniversary of Bob Marley's death, five of his closest friends and colleagues share their personal experiences of the man they knew.
Knowing Bob Marley features intimate and revealing interviews that provide a revealing insight into the experiences that shaped the man who became the third world's first superstar.
Recorded exclusively for this programme Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, former girlfriend Esther Anderson, lawyer Diane Jobson, backing singer Marcia Griffith and Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin - all tell their story of the Bob Marley they knew best.
The programme reveals how the Jamaica he grew up in, with high unemployment, plus race and class divides, shaped him. We chart his musical rise from follower of trends such as the Rude Boy movement, to a reluctant leader of fellow musicians as he spread his reggae rhythm and message across the world.
Those close to Bob also reveal the circumstances of his death, which started with a toe injury during a game of football and resulted in his passing at the age of 36, just four years later.
Bob Marley was born in 1945 to a white father and black mother, at a time of racial division in Jamaica. Bob lacked parental guidance as he grew up in Nine Mile, a rural part of St Ann's before moving to the Trench Town suburb of Kingston in his early teens. In the 60s, he found music during a decade where opportunities were limited. With his friends Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston, Bob created hype around Jamaica as The Wailers, and in 1973 were signed to Island Records as Bob Marley & The Wailers. Over the next eight years Bob became an international superstar before his untimely death on 11th May 1981.
CELEBRATING JAMAICA AT 60 (320kbs-m4a/412mb/3hrs)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th August 2022
Celebrating six decades of Jamaican music and independence.
JAMAICA 60 - 1. JAMAICA INTRODUCES SKA! (320kbs-m4a/69mb/30mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th August 2022
The newly independent island develops its own sound called SKA - standby for tracks from the likes of Millie Small, Prince Buster and Harry J All Stars.
Derrick Morgan - Forward March
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Jamaica Ska
The Ethiopians - Train To Skaville
Millie - My Boy Lollipop
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Simmer Down
Justin Hinds & The Dominoes - Carry Go Bring Come
Prince Buster - Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)
Derrick Morgan - Tougher Than Tough
Prince Buster - Al Capone
The Baba Brooks Band - Guns Fever
Harry J Allstars - Liquidator
JAMAICA 60 - 2. GET READY TO ROCK STEADY, JAMAICAN STYLE (320kbs-m4a/67mb/29mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th August 2022
As Ska moved into Rock Steady, some local names made a big impression - with music from Alton Ellis, The Uniques, John Holt and The Upsetters.
Alton Ellis & The Flames - Rock Steady
The Uniques - My Conversation
Keith & Tex - Stop That Train
John Holt - The Tide Is High
Lee "Scratch" Perry - I Am The Upsetter
The Upsetters - Return Of Django
The Techniques - You Don't Care
Phyllis Dillon - Perfidia
Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number
Bobby Dobson - Loving Pauper
JAMAICA 60 - 3. JAMAICA - THE SOUND OF REGGAE (320kbs-m4a/70mb/30mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th August 2022
Moving from Rock Steady into the internationally recognisable sound of Reggae. With music from Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Marcia Griffiths and Barrington Levy.
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Is This Love
Junior Murvin - Police & Thieves
Marcia Griffiths - Feel Like Jumping
Marcia Griffiths - Melody Life
Ken Boothe - Everything I Own
Dennis Brown - Have You Ever
John Holt - Help Me Make It Through The Night
Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse
Barrington Levy - Here I Come
JAMAICA 60 - 4. ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE! (320kbs-m4a/69mb/30mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th August 2022
The late seventies and early 80's saw a growth in popularity of roots reggae, fuelled by the growth of Rastafari. Get ready for music from Dennis Brown, Fabian, Augustus Pablo and Burning Spear.
Culture - See Them Come
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear - Columbus
Augustus Pablo - King Tubby's Meets Rockers Uptown
Fabian - Prophecy
The Abyssinians - Satta Amassa Gana
Dennis Brown - Promised Land
Aswad - Warrior Charge
Junior Reid - One Blood
JAMAICA 60 - 5. IT'S A DANCEHALL THING! (320kbs-m4a/70mb/31mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th August 2022
As the beats got faster and more electronic, the dancehalls played host to a new style of entertainment. Features music from Yellowman, Sister Nancy, Shabba Ranks and Beenie Man.
Wayne Smith - Under Me Sleng Teng
Yellowman - Zungguzungguguzungguzeng
Sister Nancy - Bam Bam
Shabba Ranks - Ting-A-Ling
Beenie Man - Romie
Lady Saw - No Long Talking
Shaggy - It Wasn't Me
Sean Paul - Gimme The Light
Koffee - Toast
Ding Dong & Dunw3ll - Bounce
JAMAICA 60 - 6. NEW MILLENNIUM ROOTS (320kbs-m4a/67mb/29mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th August 2022
The new century saw a rise in the new roots movement. With music from Damian Marley, Kabaka Pyramid, Chronixx, Protoje and Jah9.
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - Welcome To Jamrock
Chronixx - Skankin' Sweet
Jesse Royal - Modern Day Judas
Lila Iké - Where I'm Coming From
Jah9 - Avocado
Protoje & Chronixx - Who Knows
Kabaka Pyramid & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - Red Gold And Green