Marley And Me: The Real Bob Marley Story

by Don Taylor

Overview

Since Bob Marley died in 1981, the myths and legends which surround his life have continued to grow. Only one man knows the truth. Marley's confidante and manager Don Taylor, tells the real story behind Marley.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781569804797
Publisher:	Barricade Books, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/01/1995
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	6 MB

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xi
	Introduction	xvii
	Jamaica--A Historic Capsule	xix
	Beginnings
1.	Growing Up In Jamaica--Waterfront Version	3
2.	Bob's Early Life--Concrete Jungle Version	20
3.	Making It In The Land Of Opportunity--USA Version	35
	The Man
4.	Marley & Me--First Encounters	49
5.	Our First Tour And My First Meeting With Chris Blackwell	61
6.	Managing Bob: Conning The Con Men	74
7.	The Jamaican Scene	86
	The Women
8.	Bob and Rita	105
9.	Bob and Cindy	114
	Politricks
10.	The Free Concert And The Assassination Attempt	125
11.	The Aftermath	142
	The World
12.	The First Far East Tour	163
13.	The Break-Up	170
14.	From Separation to Death	179
	Scavengers
15.	Passing on the Estate--Rita And Me	189
16.	Hypocrites And Parasites	202
17.	Reflections	216
	Select Discography	223

Editorial Reviews

Marred by meandering narration and boundless self-aggrandizement, this memoir by Bob Marley's manager does little to demythologize the late, great reggae superstar. Though Taylor dutifully addresses Marley's life before their association, this is an edited version of transcripts of his taped memoirs, and Taylor comes across as more interested in hearing himself talk. Readers will learn more about Taylor's childhood in Kingston's Trench Town and his rise in the music business than about Marley's childhood and early career. Taylor makes much of the deal-brokering that goes on in the recording industry and of his proclivity for it: ``Thanks to my shrewd management and teamwork, Bob's stature was growing'' is just one example. Taylor does capture Bob Marley's navigation of Jamaica's incendiary political landscape in the 1970s, and the story of the attempt on Marley's life is well told (Taylor was seriously injured in the attempt). But Taylor's efforts to offer insight into Marley's personal life would be laughable if they weren't so embarrassingly bad, as when, in describing Bob and Rita Marley tending to their dreadlocks, Taylor opines, ``To see them lighting up their spliffs during this combing ritual was a beautiful sight.'' Get the boxed set instead. Discography. Photos not seen by PW. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Taylor, manager of such acts as Martha and the Vandellas and most recently Soul II Soul, writes about the rise of reggae great Bob Marley (1945-81). After outlining the parallels between his and Marley's youths, Taylor details his experiences as Marley's manager from 1975 to 1981, including the late 1976 assassination attempt on the musician in which Taylor was seriously wounded. Though adding few insights into Marley's music, the author offers an interesting portrayal of Marley, describing him as an ironic figure: a devoted father with an entourage of women; a multi-millionaire who traveled on tour with only a duffel bag of belongings; and a musician who hoped to unite warring political factions into religious unity. He also provides an insider's view of the music business, including cutthroat financial dealings, political machinations, and the Mafia connection. Recommended for those interested in Bob Marley and the social dimension of popular music.-David Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle

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