Toots Hibbert: The Force of Life & Love in Music
Sean MurphyWas Toots and his 1968 hit “Do the Reggay,” responsible for popularizing both the name and form of reggae that, a few years later — and in no small part…
Jamie Saft, Creativity, and the Cultivation of Mastery
My personal mantra --and life goal-- going back to my post-grad school existence, is somehow, some way trying to eradicate the barriers between art and life; not merely living an…
Don Drummond: Music Was His Occupation (Revisited)
Check out this elevator pitch: Impoverished youth becomes a mostly self-taught musician. This reticent, eccentric musical genius scraps together an existence in an environment where squalor, violence and indifference are…
Don Drummond: Music Was His Occupation
Check out this elevator pitch: Impoverished youth becomes a mostly self-taught musician. This reticent, eccentric musical genius scraps together an existence in an environment where squalor, violence and indifference are…
Bob Marley: 68 Years and Going Strong
Bob Marley was born February 6, 1945, which means he would be turning 68 today. A few years back I chose what I consider five reggae albums that are lesser known,…
Five Reggae Albums You Cannot Live Without: Part Five
Party Music for the Apocalypse: Mikey Dread’s Beyond World War III If Mikey Dread (Michael Campbell) had never decided to pick up the microphone and sing, his status would be…
Five Reggae Albums You Cannot Live Without: Part Four
Walking the Streets of Glory: Israel Vibration’s The Same Song The cardinal rule for any serious appraisal of art involves a necessity to separate all discussion of the artist from…
Five Reggae Albums You Cannot Live Without: Part Three
This is the reggae album for people who do not know, or claim not to like, reggae music. Go and Seek Your Rights: The Mighty Diamonds’ Right Time Big misconception…
Five Reggae Albums You Cannot Live Without (Part Two)
Part Two: Make a Joyful Noise Unto JAH: Culture’s International Herb Culture is immortal for their 1977 tour de force, Two Sevens Clash, one of a handful of albums that…
July 7: When The Two Sevens Clash (Revisited)
July 7, 1977: When the two sevens clash. You can, and should, appreciate Culture's masterpiece all days of the year, but on July 7 you better recognize. I wrote about…