One Love: Life with Bob Marley and the Wailers

by Lee Jaffe, Roger Steffens (Introduction)

An intimate portrait of four years on the eve of fame by a friend and collaborator of the Wailers. In 1973 young artist and filmmaker Lee Jaffe met Bob Marley in New York City and within hours cemented a friendship that would see Jaffe becoming a "Wailer" right down (or up) to his dreadlocks.

While Marley was well known in Jamaica, he was little known in the rest of the world. Jaffe witnessed Marley's life and increasing fame during those years. He helped organize Marley's first American tour and played reggae with the Wailers throughout Jamaica. He learned Rastafarian ways. And he took wonderful, candid photographs of the many colorful characters who moved through Bob's world. This book, with the photographs and Jaffe's account of those exciting years, is a lens through which we have an intimate view of the young Marley. Jaffe's recollections of life with Marley are little diminished by time. Indeed, they are as colorful as the photographs, and as revealing. 120 four-color photographs

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[David Cupples · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a coffee-table-style book and the 5-star rating should be understood in that context. Most Marley fans would probably enjoy having this sitting around in their home. Lots of great photos and Jaffe's text is of significant interest as he was the "white Wailer" who hung out with the guys and played with the band for a short period (harmonica). Anyone who spent time with Bob will likely have observations to make that are worth hearing and Jaffe is no exception to the rule. It certainly isn't anything close to a biography of Bob or a portrait of Bob as a man of his times. It can be seen as a journal of someone who spent a brief period of time with the great Bob Marley and for that reason is of significant interest. Review by the author of Stir It Up: The CIA Targets Jamaica, Bob Marley and the Progressive Manley Government, a novel.

[Sis Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more of a memoir of the thoughts and experiences of the author than a detailed view of Bob Marley. The reader should be aware that the book presents only two years during Bob's early career and, therefore, does not present the depth of personality and the spirituality of the mature Bob. Many of the details presented by the author in the book are generally superficial and much of it is centered on Bob's life when performing "on the road," although there are some instances when the author presents a little deeper understanding of Bob's personality.