Reviewed by Tony Cummings

First off it has to be said that this is a beautifully designed tome. The reggae superstar is honoured with a lavishly produced large hardback stuffed full with rare pictures, memorabilia, obscure record labels and even front covers of several issues of Black Music magazine (a publication I once edited). If you are a Marley devotee you will find much here to fascinate while most of the salient facts (from Bob's first session as a 17 year old with producer Leslie Kong through to his death by cancer) are covered. What stops this particular reviewer from giving it a whole hearted recommendation is that though there is a chapter on "The Rise Of Rasta" there is predictably nothing whatsoever about Bob turning to the Christian faith shortly before his death. The fact that Bob Marley renounced Rastafarianism and embraced Christianity, being received into the Ethiopian Coptic Church, is an embarrassing piece of history missed out by Collingwood, and other Marley biographers.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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