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CLINTON LINDSAY » GUEST RUNDOWNS » THE GRAMMY MUSEUM IS ALREADY MAKING PLANS FOR BOB MARLEY’S 70th BIRTHDAY!

THE GRAMMY MUSEUM IS ALREADY MAKING PLANS FOR BOB MARLEY’S 70th BIRTHDAY!

General manager of the Bob Marley Museum, Marie Bruce (left), accepts a plaque from director of the Grammy Museum, Bob Santelli, during the Grammy Affiliate Presentation held at the Bob Marley Museum last Friday. - Contributed
General manager of the Bob Marley Museum, Marie Bruce (left), accepts a plaque from director of the Grammy Museum, Bob Santelli, during the Grammy Affiliate Presentation held at the Bob Marley Museum last Friday. – Contributed

By Shereita Grizzle—-

Although the birthday of the late reggae legend Robert Nesta Marley is nearly a year away, plans for his 70th birthday celebrations are already in the pipeline.

Though tight-lipped on the exact plans, director of the Grammy Museum, Bob Santelli, said part of the reason for his visit to the island was to put in place plans for those celebrations.

“We are in the process of formulating them, and at some point this year, we will come out with a press release that will explain what we will do.”

According to Santelli, the Grammy Museum will play an integral role in the celebrations.

“The Grammy Museum will celebrate Bob Marley’s 70th birthday next year in Los Angeles during Grammy week, the most important week in music. We will celebrate the relationship between the Grammy Museum and the Bob Marley Museum.”

Bob Marley

Bob Marley

Santelli said there is a lot that could happen with the association between the museums, but says that the local museum is also a home, and thus, the historic nature of the residency has to be preserved.

“There are certain things I would love to do here, but I can’t touch it because the historic nature of the house has to be maintained because the house is the most important artefact.”

With the hopes of getting more young people to understand the intricacies of reggae music, Santelli said some of the interactive displays seen in the international museum will be brought to Jamaica.

Interactive experience

“People are going to now learn what a reggae beat is. We have interactive drums and guitars that will take you inside of the music, even if you have never played drums before you are going to now be able to understand it,” he said.

“When young people go through here, instead of just hearing the story of Bob Marley, they’re going to understand what made his music so great and that’s what’s going to be fun. The adults will love it but the kids will get it right away.”

Bob Santelli

Bob Santelli

Santelli was speaking in an interview with The Gleaner at the reggae legend’s residence on Old Hope Road last Friday.

Marie Bruce, general manager of the Bob Marley Museum, pointed out a few young reggae acts she deems good for the reggae brand, and who possess the ability to build on the legacy of Bob Marley.

“There is an amazing trend of new artistes like Jesse Royal, Chronixx and Romain Virgo who all have that real authentic rasta vibe in their sound, message and their delivery, so there’s definitely persons who can keep the reggae vision alive,” said Bruce.

Santelli also spoke about Jamaica’s inability to capitalise on cultural tourism, as well as the plans to get the first set of artefacts from the international museum to Jamaica in the coming weeks.

shereita.grizzle@gleanerjm.com

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