Rebel Music: The Bob Marley Story

Some rebels uplift not only their own people, but also those far beyond national boundaries with their message to throw off the chains of oppressors. Perhaps that is why Bob Marley has been such a persistent icon of freedom across the globe. Emphasizing the spiritual and political side of Marley's music, with hardly a note from some of his lighter tunes (such as "Three Little Birds," Bobby McFerrin's inspiration for “Don't Worry, Be Happy”), Rebel Music chronicles the short life of reggae superstar Bob Marley, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 36. Growing up fatherless (by a white Englishman who abandoned Bob's teenage mother) in rural Jamaica, and later moving to the shantytown district of urban Trenchtown, Marley would eventually become an almost mythic figure who played the stoned mystic priest in public, but also had a behind-the-scenes musical work ethic on the order of Bruce Springsteen (who isn't called “the boss” by his band members out of affection). A mix of Rude Boy (young tough) and devout follower of the then uniquely Jamaican Rastafari religion, Marley and the members of the original Wailers (including Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer) chose to use strong-arm tactics on DJs of local radio stations to break into their confined airplay lists, an aggressive move that would eventually make Marley the target of a failed assassination attempt. Bob Marley's music always spoke directly, in simple terms, to his fellow Jamaicans; that people throughout the world continue to find something in that music that applies to their own lives is a testament to his artistry and devotion to universal themes. And the bass line throbs like a thunderous heartbeat, too. Combining archival footage, recordings and live performances, and interviews with band and family members, Rebel Music is an excellent portrait of a seminal artist. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (C. Block)