Burning Spear – Love Reggae Music

Winston Rodney who was born in 1945 in St. Ann’s, Jamaica— easily shares the title “The Father of Reggae” with his musical contemporary Bob Marley. Since 1968, Spear’s music has defined the genre of “roots reggae,” which emphasizes Jamaica’s historical links to Africa, the self-determination teachings of black nationalist Marcus Garvey, and black consciousness themes. Spear’s resonant voice and hard driving drum-beat and bass lines create a hypnotic sound that lulls the listener and enhances the message of his lyrics. On his 1991 album, Jah Kingdom, he sings the praises of black leaders Garvey, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela, often delving into historical analyses of Western revisionist history; his acclaimed Hail H.I.M features the song “Columbus,” which clearly dismisses the notion that Columbus “discovered” Jamaica, ending with the emotional declaration: “Christopher Columbus was a damned blasted liar.”

Spear’s resonant voice and hard driving drum-beat and bass lines create a hypnotic sound that lulls the listener and enhances the message of his lyrics. On his 1991 album, Jah Kingdom, he sings the praises of black leaders Garvey, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela, often delving into historical analyses of Western revisionist history; his acclaimed Hail H.I.M features the song “Columbus,” which clearly dismisses the notion that Columbus “discovered” Jamaica, ending with the emotional declaration: “Christopher Columbus was a damned blasted liar.”

Yet despite his strident politics, “Rodney views the world and its people as a whole,” wrote Ed Paladino in The Beat “Through his everlasting belief in the ideals of Garvey and his preeminent concern for all of Africa’s descendants, he has captured an even greater ideal for all of the human race. When he sings on ‘World Power’: ‘Yes we suffer/Let’s not talk about race/let’s not talk about colour,’ he surpasses labels and politics.” Taking the name of controversial Kenyan freedom-fighter and president Jomo Kenyatta— “The Burning Spear”— Rodney metaphorically unites his political beliefs with his Rastafarian faith, preaching an end to suffering and slavery for all people. Over the course of his career, Spear has released over 20 albums and has been nominated for five Grammy awards. In a 1991 interview with Mean Street, he stated that he “would like the people to know when they hear the name Burning Spear that it is a constructive name, a strong name…. The music is for all of the people and the people are for the music.”

Considering his heavy emphasis on the importance of “roots,” it is no coincidence that Spear’s greatest influences— Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley— also hailed from St. Ann’s, Jamaica. Born in 1887, Marcus Garvey moved to the United States in 1916 and started the “Back to Africa” movement based on the belief that blacks would never receive justice in white-dominated or colonised countries. Throughout his musical history, Spear has blended the teachings of Garvey into his lyrics as a way of spreading the leader’s message to the people.

There was a time, however, when Spear was neither spiritually nor politically inspired. According to an interview

Rodney began his professional music career in 1969. On the advice of Bob Marley, he contacted Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label. Marley was also recording working with the label at the time. Along with bass singer Rupert Willington, he created the group Burning Spear. The two, therefore, auditioned for Dodd and eventually led to the release of their first single “Door Peep,” in 1969. Subsequently, tenor Delroy Hinds joined the group.

Now three, the group released several singles and two albums. In 1975, they left Dodd and began recording for Jack Ruby. Their new association came with Ruby gave birth to the hit single, “Marcus Garvey.” They soon followed it with another hit “Slavery Days.” that same year, they release the third album “Marcus Garvey.” The album became an instant hit earning them a contract with Island Records. However, Island unilaterally decided to alter the speed of some songs on the album. Unsatisfied with the decision, Rodney started the Burning Music label. Subsequently, they release the albums Garvey’s Ghost and the Main in the Hills for Island Records.

In 1976, Rodney broke away from the rest of the group members. He, therefore, adopted the group name Burning Spear for his solo career. Following the breakaway, he released the album Dry and Heavy, 1977. He went on to perform at the Rainbow Theatre, London using members of Aswad as backing band. The live recording of the show became his next album “Live!”. The following year, he released the studio album “Social Living” with backing from Aswad. The album also featured Rico Rodriguez and Sly Dunbar. Burning Spear made an acting debut in the film, Rockers, as Jah no Dead. The appearance increased his followings and raised his profile. He left Islands record in 1980 to begin the Burning Music Production Company associated with EMI. His debut release on the label was Hail H.I.M., which he recorded at  Marley’s Tuff Gong studio.

Burning Spear signed with Heartbeat Records in 1982. His about a decade association with the label saw the release of several albums. His album Resistance, 1985, earned a nomination at the Grammy Awards. Following his brief departure from Heartbeat, he re-joined Island where he released two albums. Subsequently, he returned to the Heartbeat. The label released albums including The World Should Know (1993), and Rasta Business (1995). Others include The World Should Know (1993), Rasta Business (1995), and Appointment with His Majesty (1997). In 1999, he released Calling Rastafari, which won him a Grammy Award in 2000. His 2008 album Jah is Real won him the second Grammy Award in 2009. In all, he has received 12 Grammy Award nominations.

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