Wendy’s Perspective: Bob Marley Celebration, Long Beach

By Wendy Russell

It was time to leave for Long Beach, California for the 21st Annual Ragga Muffins Bob Marley Day Celebration. I set out to enjoy some great reggae and old friends, and I was also assigned to write this article, along with two other journalists from JahWorks.org, Joe Aytch and Mike Cook. Together, we covered all four days of Ragga Muffins Celebrations--February 16 and 17 in Long Beach, then February 18 in San Diego, and lastly, another trip to San Francisco's Warfield Theatre for the show on the 23rd.

My eight suitcases are packed; I am ready for anything with two cameras, three lenses, 50 rolls of film, cassettes, a mic and recording equipment, lots of various posters and paperwork for various projects, two mobile phones, an alarm, umbrella, flashlight--most of which I never use by weekend's end. I had clothes for warm or cold weather. Shoes for walking and shoes for fashion. Six days of reggae in one long weekend demands high energy. I had been training by running up and down the stairs extra times at home and staying up later and later the nights leading up to the Festival.

The doors open at noon Saturday but I arrive at the hotel early Thursday afternoon. I plan to spend Thursday evening with photographer Diane Issachar, flying in from Florida for the festival like so many other reggae pilgrims do. This is the first of what I call the Holy Trinity of festivals: February's Ragga Muffins Bob Marley Day Celebration in Long Beach, the rootsy Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Angel's Camp in June and the mighty Reggae On The River that pegs summer's end. Diane was bringing photos for me to look through for Reggae Festival Guide's next issue. We never got around to that. We ordered gooey desserts via room service and talked reggae late into the night. She told me a lot about the recent Jamaican festival, Rebel Salute--great artists, near riots, Bobo fires burnin' and free herb handouts to the crowd. I had missed it by just a few too many deadlines, but she had me wishing I could turn back the clock and go there!

By the next morning, performers, industry folk and reggae fans began checking in to the hotel and the lobby became a red, gold and green social scene and business expo unto itself. Anything could happen; in years past we witnessed Mutabaruka and a Christafari member heatedly discussing Rasta and Christ, we were serenaded by Barrington Levy in an elevator, and one year we watched Luciano sing and strum guitar in the lobby. Friday dawn promised great weather. This was good for the outdoor vendors of this massive event billed as having the most food and craft vendors. In the past, it sometimes has rained all weekend or blown fierce winds.

From my hotel room on the 16th floor, I could look down at the huge Long Beach Sports Arena. I saw an empty cement parking lot transform overnight into the food court; a packed, smokey jumble of BBQ grills, food booths, tables, benches and a radio station booth blasting loud dancehall as couples and singles gyrated to all the latest hits. LOTS of vendors. Plenty of spending money is a "must" here. Coats made from African mudcloth, sterling silver Ethiopian crosses, giant scepters and rare CDs are some of the "finds" that are unique here. Lots of people too; this 14,000 capacity arena is sold-out for the Saturday show.

By Friday afternoon the hotel lobby is packed with Reggae folks. The hotel overlaps events and this year we overlapped with a bunch of salesmen. They stare at the dreadlocks and the colorfully clothed, excited and exuberant folk, as they wheel luggage out of the hotel in their polo shirts, khaki pants or jeans and white tennis shoes. Some reggae folk in the lobby are asking around for rooms, passes or tickets. By not planning ahead they now have to worry, hustle and/or track down the promoters or press liaisons -- and that ain't pretty! But mostly it's all hugging and laughing at friendly reunions with lots of introductions, networking and connections. I saw Morgan Heritage checking in and we caught up on things since they were last in Fresno, when Mojo had to spend the day in our hospital emergency room after an allergic reaction from food the night before. It's rough out on the road!

Saturday morning begins with the Press Conference, in true reggae time with people straggling in slowly. Ragga Muffins Productions' promoters, Barbara Barabino and Moss Jacobs, realize who spreads the hype that leads to a sold-out show; the radio deejays that talk up the artists in the months before and after a show, the writers that include the festival in their precious words allotted for an article, the photographers that spend money snapping, developing and mailing out photographs, TV crews that can choose that event for a human interest spot on the evening news if they wish to, and the newest members in the publicity machine, the website masters---all these hard working folks that get the word out are respected by Ragga Muffins’ promoters.

These smart promoters arrange the Press Conference, hosted by Russell Gerlach and Isadora, to give the press access to the performing artists. And the smart artists show up, too, even though it’s early. My surprise highlight that morning was meeting the Argentine rastaman, Fidel. While not on the lineup that weekend he was there to spread his CDs to all the DJs assembled in this one room. Smart. I had discovered his music when Linda & Dana Productions/Reality Sound International brought him to perform in Fresno last winter and have played the CD almost every radio show since. His Spanish/English lyrics are most UP-conscious! And here he was, in person! Copeland Forbes, booking agent extraordinaire, and currently manager to Luciano, told us of his new book about his 40-year career in the industry, "Reggae, My Life Is." Junior P prayed. Lisa, from LMS, sang her own solo offering. Other artists dropped in too that morning -- but the big fireworks were to explode at Sunday's Press Conference!

The festival opened the doors at noon Saturday with Mr. Mutton and Daddy Tracy, then Jr. P, kicking it off at 1 PM. The day's acts were mostly backed by Jamaica's Skool Band. Next time you see them, make note that once I asked Christopher, the keyboardist, how he could play so many artists' songs perfectly. He told me that he can play a song after hearing it--even just once--on the radio. I say it's a genius-kind-of-thing going on!

Backstage is a beehive of buzzing activity. It's tightly guarded by Security everywhere. The place is packed with lots of folks that make reggae happen in some way, such as the debonair Richie B, Jamaican RJR Radio's #1 DJ. Or Carlton Manning of the legendary Abyssinians, with stacks of CDs to pass out to DJs of his original band, Carlton and The Shoes. Lots of promoters backstage too, such as Karen Abeita from Hopiland, New Mexico and DJs from all over, like Ras Danny of Portland, Oregon's Higher Reasoning radio show.

Much respect due to the people that make it happen. This includes the wives and husbands, who make the industry folks’ lives much easier with their support and trust. Lots of business cards, CDs, and scraps of paper with scribbled contact numbers exchange hands. People that know each other through e-mail finally meet in person. I finally met Stone Tiger's Jeannette Smith, the entertainment lawyer and publicist! One famous artist had to share a hotel room with another male musician that night--maybe, maybe not; he told me, "I have to find one of those women that always say, 'I love you! I love you!' And see if they DO love me!" ...Lots of action, like I said!

I happened to be in the office when one of the tour's performers called up the promoter demanding to be placed later on the lineup. Then I saw 'tough.' For smooth runnins, toughness is required as part of the job of the promoter and smooth runnins' is a hallmark of Ragga Muffins Productions. Breaks between acts are short, on one hand it’s never enough time to check the restrooms and buy some dinner to catch all of the next act. Or shopping–which act are you going to miss to grab all the bargains and shop all the booths? On the other hand, however, it is nonstop great live music! Ohhh, choices, choices! And I tried to catch it ALL! I never did see Mike Cook, the third writer for this article, ever, the whole weekend. 14,000 people are a lot of folks to get lost in!

Saturday's music highlights were Bushman's roots-dancehall anthems, Tony Rebel's righteous songs of Jah (including that song requested on my radio show all the time; "Si Jah Esta A Lado De Me," the Spanish version of "With Jah By My Side"), Junior Reid's dancehall classics, that young rising lion, Turbulence, and the ever wild and popular Beenie Man. Other notable performances came in from the energetic and lively T. O. K., all them wearing white, and as always, the intense fya of Sizzla. On Sunday I asked a gang of Fresno reggae fans who their favorite was yesterday. "SIZZLA!" they shouted all in unison. He so speaks for the youth! But I am a roots-kinda-gal, so for me, the best was to come on Sunday.

Sunday was full of special surprises all day, beginning with a Press Conference that will be long remembered by all those present. Eek-A-Mouse crashed the house, berating those present for "speaking to the white promoter exploiting the black artist." Carlton Manning told me that Eek had told him in the hall he was gonna stir things up! Eek was escorted out. I felt exonerated; "Eek freaked even without my help," I thought to myself, remembering that show a few years ago, when Eek threw a tantrum on stage — another story for another day! Out of that negativity came excellent words from the many reggae messengers at the Press Conference, such as Junior Reid and including the highest earthly messenger, in my humble opinion: Luciano.

Luciano came in with a carved wooden staff, his young son and a newspaper article quoting noted reggae archivist Roger Steffens saying that "reggae may be a thing of the past, unfortunately." Luciano then disproved it with facts such as Bob Marley's "Exodus" winning 'Album Of The Century' from Time Magazine for the Millennium year 2000. Thoughtful, intelligent, articulate, even as he stumbled reading aloud the word "affectionados," Luciano prayed with us, sang to us and gave us these gems of wisdom; we have amnesia, we do not remember the good that God has given us. That we should wring the bad out of our minds. And that there IS hope for the human race.

Days later I asked Roger Steffens about the article that Luciano read from. He bemoaned the fact that he was interviewed for 45 minutes and there were only three sentences pulled out of that talk and his quotes were taken out of context. By reggae being a "thing of the past" he clarifies that he was speaking about the current situation on Jamaican radio and the continuing lack of true, roots reggae on the air in Jamaica. He compared it to rock and roll, which is a more-than-mature form, nearly 50 years old now, hardly the force it once was, with its product reduced to minor categories in the Grammys. Same situation with reggae today. It's 34 years old, its best years are far behind, and the music has blended into the background of today's youth like bossa nova or blues. Roger says he laments this situation, but has spoken with far too many professionals in the business who decry what has become of the reggae market. It has shrunk and it is only the festivals that keep it truly alive in the U.S.. Roger does not want to be seen as someone denigrating our music, but he says neither can he be a mindless Pollyanna refusing to see reality. Reggae is in trouble, in Roger's opinion; the labels are suffering, the clubs book a fraction of the acts they used to, fewer artists are touring than ever before, the number of reggae programs on the air are dwindling, magazines have closed, advertising has all but dried up. He wants to tell us that it is up to all of us true believers to find a way to reinvigorate Reggae.

Whew! Food for thought from both sides.

Back to the Press Conference in the hallway outside were small groups clustered around the many artists present there, recording radio station IDs, questions and answers for the listeners back home. I heard station IDs for Germany, Denmark, Canada and Hopiland around me.

Leaving the Press Conference to go get ready for the day’s show beginning soon, I bumped into Eek-A-Mouse. "You--BAD BOY!" I exclaimed as he chuckled with glee. When I said, "sometimes it's rough on the messenger when folks don't like the message! But do you have to be so rowdy? Aren't you worried you will scare off promoters from hiring you?" No, he was not worried, "As long as I pack the house, I will get jobs," and we agreed. There should be more African American and Jamaican promoters, but, I offered my humble opinion here, it all has to do with money. Yes, on a more serious vein and deeper in history, money and exploitation are entwined, but not now in the reggae family, we all work hard to spread this sweet reggae music far and wide, wherever our varied talents lead us.

By the time I got to the Arena I missed Caribbean Pulse, General Jah Mikey (who had also been at the Press Conference) and Dean Fraser. Mutabaruka was on stage and it was a powerful performance. Muta wore red that glowed in the lights. Flag bearers and a great band completed the majestic scene. The bass beat was loud and perfect. His "Psalms 24" was astounding. Another song about war touched right on the wounds of the September 11 attacks. (And, yes, he was barefoot all weekend!)

After the Skatalites performed their history-making music of yesteryear there came on stage reggae music's future, Morgan Heritage.

"We've heard the message before from the reggae legends," Mojo says, "it's the message of Rastafari, and we stipulate in that message that His Majesty King Haile Selassie I is Christ returned. He's the Black Messiah sent to redeem his people in the Black Diaspora, letting them know the fullness of the Kingdom of God is at hand. Yet our message is the same as Martin Luther King's and others. Mankind has to hear the same thing over and over again. So we come not with something new, but to remind people of who they really are." Wow. On stage the Morgan siblings give their all so that we may hear. It's mostly Peter on the lead vocals, but versatility and talent abounds within this Morgan music dynasty.

Sunday evening also showcased Festival promoter Barbara Barabino's radio show 'live' from backstage! With an engineer and Barbara's co-host, Dread Scott, from 100.3 FM, The Beat, they had great drop-in guests and lively comments to add into the mix.

By now the cement floors of the arena are taking their toll on my feet and the back, but this huge reggae dance continues. My voice is getting hoarse. It's all hectic backstage with the arrival of Damian Marley and the Ghetto Youth Crew. There is a rumor spreading like wildfire that Lauryn Hill will perform. Top secret, but everyone knows. Backstage security tightens up even more. No one is allowed in or out of the dressing rooms. Someone from Morgan Heritage motions me through the blocked entrance. It's like Hollywood inside there now--a whole different vibe!

On the darkened stage Lauryn Hill sits calmly and sedate on a chair, alone with a guitar. Her hair in a cap, she still wears her jacket and scarf. As she gave us songs of beauty and female force, she kept asking if the ladies out there were really listening, could we really hear her words? Words such as "if it ain't love then leave it alone." Words such as "are you sure it's God you are serving?" Words such as "try and put me in a box, I'll get out..."

Words just right for all of us women after the sexual slackness presented for all to see, via Elephant Man's raunchy, yet entertaining, performance earlier in the show. What struck me the most by those X-rated antics of his, was the reaction of the women--I saw no shyness in the 15 to 20 women that reached up to grab what he offered those ladies in the front row! His belt buckle was even ripped off in the invited "attack" on his person!

The performance by recent Grammy Award winner, Damian Marley and the Ghetto Youth Crew, was a blur of hip-hop flavored reggae, flags, love and inity. Damian sings in his own style and looks just like his dad in flashes here and there. Earl Chinna Smith rocked in the band too, and I remembered my visit to his house in Kingston. He was not home, but I had a delightful visit with Miss Penny. What I remember most was a living room full of musical equipment and framed hit records, one, a titanium Jimmy Cliff album, had fallen to the floor, shattering glass and breaking the frame, a dusty pile of reggae history.

Oh, I'm rambling...getting tired after all of this reggae -- and there is more coming! Gregory Isaacs’ performance was super smooth, the Cool Ruler still got it! I have seen him perform about five times this year and this performance, plus last June's Old School Jam were his best. His son, Kevin Isaacs, came out to sing "On The Border," a great song mixing geographical boundaries with Jah.

M. C. Amlak Tafari, with his longtime music and stage lineage, knows just how to whip up the crowd into a fun frenzy in between the artists' sets on stage. He wears wonderfully tailored and colorful stage costumes that he designs. He told me his mother in England sews them up for him. This afternoon, he also presented both Gregory Isaacs and the Skatalites with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contribution to reggae.

That mighty Messenjah, Luciano, closed the show with awesome spiritual majesty and mighty physical feats, such as back flips from the speaker cabinets. A female dancer came out, swirling in African riddims. He began the good vibes at that morning's Press Conference and he ended the night with more of the same. A perfect ending.

But it was not over yet for some! The next morning the odyssey continued. Some folks were going home, others were continuing on tour and lots of us were going on to San Diego for the 21st Annual Bob Marley Day, co-presented by Ragga Muffins and Worldbeat Productions. Monday morning rides were hunted and time was short between check out time in Long Beach and when the gates open at noon in San Diego two hours away. The San Diego Sports Arena holds 13,500 people and it was full of reggae folks when I finally got inside.

I was running, because I hoped to see young Prince Rastan perform. I wanted to be able to say, "I saw him perform every year as he grew up into the star he is today!" But I missed his set.

But I did not miss the main reason I came all the way to this San Diego show, Midnite. Midnite? I know you may not know the band, but you will. Originally from St. Croix, Midnite's irie sounds were unknown to me too, until I saw them on the lineup of Sierra Nevada World Music Festival next June, so I searched out the CDs. They have three or four CDs out ("Unpolished" or "Ras Mek Peace" are superb) and Vaughn, the lead singer, told me they have twelve more waiting to be released! The CDs I heard were filled with most excellent lyrics of Jah consciousness. I had to see them LIVE! And I was not disappointed. After the set I visited with them backstage, where we reasoned for a long time. With a militant stance on spiritual, musical and political subjects, based on much learning and strengths, I was quite impressed by these musical messengers. Back on stage, Linval Thompson was rocking the Arena with the dread sounds of mental freedom and rights. Makeda Dread revved up the crowds in between acts, her long-time contribution to San Diego's reggae scene most apparent from the roars of love from the hometown crowd. Treated again to wonderful performances by Gregory Isaacs, Tony Rebel, (who brought on stage a young and beautiful daughter of Delroy Morgan’s), and Bushman, I also enjoyed the vibe of the crowds. I must admit I do not remember Sizzla or Damian Marley on stage in San Diego. Morgan Heritage was wonderful again-- that I DO remember! And Luciano's "Crazy Baldheads" hit home in today's crazy world. Exhausted, I drove home the next day, happily content and full of reasonings on it all.

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Wendy Russell, ex-promoter in Fresno, CA for 15 years is now Festival volunteer, organizer, writer and photographer, and also editor of Reggae Festival Guide. She is a radio DJ on Satellite Radio Bilingue nationwide, worldwide at www.radiobilingue.org.