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Reggae Links |
Reggae Music Includes an interview with Bob Marley A 15 minute video version of the original television
show "Reggae Music 1976" is available on a limited basis to those who
e-mail me to request a private use copy. When asked if Reggae music would make him rich, Bob Marley replied , "Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy, your search for happiness will never end." |
The video taped interview with Reggae musician, Bob
Marley was recorded at a Wailers' concert in Minneapolis, Minnesota
in1976 at Orchestra Hall. At the time of this interview, portable video
cameras were almost exclusively used by broadcast television stations
and were know as ENG or Electronic News Gathering cameras. They were
huge and expensive. The Bob Marley interview was taped using a black
and white ½” tape format., a small, reel-to-reel recorder that was
loaned by a community access organization called Film In The Cities.
Without their commitment to community service and free media access,
this rare interview with Reggae pioneer, Bob Marley, would never have
happened. Hopefully the glimpse into the thoughts of this
dynamic musician will compensate for the poor quality of technology that
brings him to us today. Jerry Douglas and myself, TJ Western, were relentless in our pursuit of this interview. Bob Marley rarely granted interviews--he mis-trusted the media. In fact, he comments in this interview why he was cautious about talking on camera. But in the end he decided to grant us the interview. The only time before now that this interview has aired was in the television show Reggae Music produced by TJ Western and aired in 1976 on KTCA Television, St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Minneapolis Reggae in 1976 and now. Letter to Paul McGee Hi Paul, It's great to see someone like yourself promoting Reggae music in the Twin Cities. I was doing that thirty years ago when I managed Simba. I see that you have some history on Simba posted to your website. I became aware of your website when I was corresponding with someone who viewed my interview with Bob Marley that I recently posted to YouTube. I want to give you some additional information about Simba. Simba actually was together for more than two years. When I managed the band in 1975-76 the members included Neil Guevara (leader & guitar), his wife, Dee Anderson (vocals), Hasan Omari (vocals, percussion), Ben Hill (drums) Michael Benjamin (keyboard & vocals), Tony Paul (congas, percussion, vocals), and there were two different base players during that period. I am afraid that I don't remember the first base player who was from St. Lewis Park. I'll research my archives to see if I can remember his name. The second bassist was Mike Rivard, currently a videographer in Minneapolis. I believe Peter Nelson may have started the band with Neil but when I worked with the group, Peter had Shangoya going and Tony Paul was still with Simba. Sherman was around at some of our gigs but he didn't play with the band in those two years that I was with the group. I don't recognize the name Ros Bongo from that period. If you check out the TV show that I made in 1976, you'll see the members I've described. The show was produced in the fall of 1976. You can download that video from: www.tjwestern.com An interesting anecdote is that when the Wailers were in Minneapolis in May, 1976, I took them to a gig that Simba was performing at the tenth anniversary of the Walker Art Center and they joined Simba on stage to jam! The Wailers stayed in town for a week and I took them to a Kicks soccer game and to a private party at a North Minneapolis apartment where no one knew who they were. They had a good time. When I tried to book bands in the Cities back then, it was a huge challenge. I went to the city clubs for gigs and one of the booking mangers at the Cabooze called Simba a "pimp" music band because the members were black. When trying to book the band in North Minneapolis, they called it "white boy" music. So the level of racism and ignorance was acute. I produced the television program, "Reggae Music", in an attempt to expose people to a music that I personally loved and to educate people about the music. We used to get a lot bookings in the outlying areas like Albert Lee. The people who came to hear us, loved to dance and loved the music. I eventually promoted private parties in Veteran's halls and on river paddle boats where Simba and Shangoya performed. Those boat parties were incredible and always sold out. It looks like you've got some serious talent to work with there. Congratulations. I hope you have much success. TJ Western
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(c) 2009 TJ
Western
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