EMANCIPATE YOURSELVES BOB MARLEY'S SONS JOIN THIS YEAR'S STAR-STUDDED TRIBUTE TO THE REGGAE LEGEND.Byline: Theo Douglas Staff Writer While this weekend's tribute to Bob Marley bears the name of reggae's most recognizable star - the man who took Jamaican music to the farthest reaches of the globe - the event's wide-ranging talent roster reveals how the syncopated syn·co·pate tr.v. syn·co·pat·ed, syn·co·pat·ing, syn·co·pates 1. Grammar To shorten (a word) by syncope. 2. Music To modify (rhythm) by syncopation. island rhythm has embraced all manner of pop trends. With at least two-dozen acts playing over two days at the Long Beach Arena, there's enough music on display for an entire Marley week. At just the tip of the iceberg tip of the iceberg n. pl. tips of the iceberg A small evident part or aspect of something largely hidden: afraid that these few reported cases of the disease might only be the tip of the iceberg. , veteran headliners Steel Pulse Steel Pulse is a well-known roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England and comprised of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronald McQueen (bass). and Buju Banton Buju Banton (born Mark Anthony Myrie 1972 35 years of age) is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer & producer. History Buju Banton was born near Kingston, Jamaica in a poor neighborhood called Salt Lane. on Saturday and MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. faves Shaggy and Sean Paul This article is about the Jamaican reggae artist. For the American rapper, see Sean P. Sean Paul Henriques (born January 8 1973[][]) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. on Sunday represent contemporary reggae and its various adjuncts. Sunday's daylong program also brings together a trio of the late Marley's sons - Damian, Julian and Stephen - who each has a solo career. ``Every year I try to make the show better than the last,'' event promoter Barbara Barabino said. ``Everybody seems to be happy, and it's like, 'Where do I go from here?' I like to give a chance to artists who need a little exposure.'' That means younger U.K. reggae acts such as Lloyd Brown Lloyd Brown may refer to:
Reggae, Barabino says, ``has been ignored on the West Coast, but it's really been developing in England. So many Jamaicans migrated to England and their kids were born there ... I'm bringing England to Long Beach.'' While the flinty flint·y adj. flint·i·er, flint·i·est 1. Containing or composed of flint. 2. Unyielding; stern: a flinty manner. reggae productions of the 1970s, spearheaded by the prolific Marley and fellow stars Peter Tosh Peter Tosh (October 19, 1944 – September 11, 1987[1]) was the guitarist in the original Wailing Wailers, a pioneer reggae musician, and a trailblazer for the Rastafari movement. and Bunny Wailer, have been superseded by dancehall dance·hall n. 1. or dance hall A building or part of a building with facilities for dancing. 2. See ragga. dancehall Noun a style of dance-oriented reggae and hip-hop offshoots, the tough golden-age sound is personified Saturday in Long Beach by the British band Steel Pulse, known for the socially relevant workouts ``Ku Klux Klan Ku Klux Klan (k  ' klŭks klăn), designation mainly given to two distinct secret societies that played a part in American history, although other less important groups have also used ,'' ``Handsworth Revolution'' and ``Sound System.'' Fans are also looking forward to Banton's set. As a teen in the early 1990s, the singer achieved notoriety in Jamaica's violent dancehall scene with a series of controversial songs about guns and girls. He's since moved on in favor of material that reflects loftier concerns. ``My thing is spiritual and let's leave it at that,'' said Banton, a recent convert to the Rastafarian faith. ``It just kind of happened.'' In the mid-'90s, Banton cut the Grammy-nominated `` 'Til Shiloh (Loose Cannon),'' a declaration of Rasta faith that touched a chord throughout the world. ``My music began to develop and I began to develop with it,'' Banton explained. ``Such is music. The music becomes more spiritual, more (rhythmic). Well, I've never done anything else (but play music), so you've got to excel at something.'' Equally intriguing is Sunday's sons-of-Marley showcase. Damian, the youngest, is a rapper - a genre long known as ``toasting'' in Jamaica - and will be backed by a full band. Julian started out as a guitarist and has since moved to bass, keyboards and drums to become something of a one-man band. Stephen, who toasts and sings, is a busy producer who worked on covers of some of his late father's hits by sister-in-law Lauryn Hill (wife of Rohan, another brother), among others. ``Because of our father's work, we don't really analyze music in terms that we want to be different,'' said Damian, who bagged a Grammy trophy for his ``Halfway Tree'' album a couple of years ago. ``Music influences our lifestyle, so what we do is really (about) trying to influence people. We're trying to build on our father's foundation. And we don't shy (away) from saying that.'' Whether reggae will ever again find a voice as powerful as Bob Marley's is arguable. Today's most visible purveyors of the stuff are such Top 40-friendly acts as Shaggy and Sean Paul. And though Damian Marley says he respects their work, he'll keep making personal, reality-based music. ``We're still trying to write about (real) things in a positive outlook,'' he said. ``Rather than glorifying drugs, we're saying you shouldn't be doing that to one another. But at the same time, we'll keep it real - no bubblegum bub·ble·gum n. also bubble gum 1. Chewing gum that can be blown into bubbles. 2. Slang A style of popular music designed to appeal to adolescents, characterized by bouncy rhythms and a generally cheerful tone. righteousness.'' BOB MARLEY DAY 2003 What: The 22nd celebration of the late reggae king's legacy is headlined by Steel Pulse and Buju Banton (Saturday); Shaggy and Sean Paul (Sunday). Where: Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. When: 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: $35 to $50. Call (213) 480-3232 or visit www.ticketmaster.com or bobmarleydayfestival.com. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) no caption (Bob Marley) (2) BUJU BANTON (3) DAMIAN MARLEY |
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