Mountain Mayhem: Reggae got soul

I was in middle school when my friend Katie slid a Bob Marley cassette into the tape deck of her mom’s BMW Sedan, and something instantly clicked into place for me: the drum, the bass, the lyrics — I was instantly hooked on reggae.

From there, I dove in headfirst to explore the genre. I started collecting LPs — Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Yellowman, Jimmy Cliff, and on and on. In high school, I caught Steel Pulse live, my very first reggae show. I even took singing lessons for a stretch, inspired by the I Threes — the legendary trio of Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths who sang alongside Bob Marley and the Wailers and brought heart and soul to everything they touched. That didn’t last, but I still dream of singing as support somewhere someday!

I’ve made it to Jamaica a few times over the years. On my third visit, I ran the Reggae Marathon around Negril, with music woven into every mile of the course. To run through a landscape that gave the world this music, surrounded by people who love it too, unquestionably made an impact.

The other night, Winston Rodney — known as Burning Spear — played Belly Up to an engaged audience. A friend had driven up from Denver specifically for the show, though she ended up not feeling great — what Tosh referred to as Regggae Mylitis. Since she couldn’t make it, my husband took her place, and we headed off to the concert. 

The turnout was strong for a Sunday evening, the energy was infectious, and Burning Spear delivered exactly what fifty-plus years of music-making means: singing, dancing, and being supported by a grand band on horns, the keyboard, percussion, the guitar, and bass. Rodney’s origin story is fascinating to me, how he was born and raised in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica — the same parish where Bob Marley grew up. The two weren’t just neighbors; they had a real connection and encouraged one another to pursue their musical careers.

As like the late, great Toots Hibbert sang – “Reggae’s got soul.” As well as joy and grief, resistance and gratitude. 

This summer, there’s plenty more on the horizon. On June 24, Ziggy Marley and Stephen Marley play at Red Rocks with Buju Banton, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and more. Then Ziggy heads up to Belly Up the very next night for an all-ages show as part of his Brightside Tour. On Aug. 11, Steel Pulse takes the stage at Denver Botanic Gardens. Reggae on the Rocks returns to Red Rocks on Aug. 22 with a stacked lineup of Rebelution, MAOLI, Skip Marley, Third World, Etana, and Judge Roughneck. 

All the more reason to celebrate and feel Irie!