Bob Marley & Peter Tosh: Get Up! Stand Up!: Diary Of A Reggaeophile

by Fikisha Cumbo

...A definite collectors' item.... Together Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston created The Wailers. Bob Marley and Peter Tosh wrote the reggae anthem, "Get Up, Stand Up" which inspired the title of the book. The author, Fikisha Cumbo, through text and photographs relives the era of emerging international popularity of reggae with its independent free flowing lifestyle, intimately documenting these two icons of this music from 1975 through 1983. Legendary singer Roberta Flack, Marley's friend, writes the foreword. Fikisha allows the reader to vividly witness these years with Tosh and Marley in their Jamaican homes,"on the road," in rehearsals, in concerts and through totally uncensored interviews. This book is a rare gem because it is the only published work to date, behind the scenes of the personal Marley and Tosh during this era. Fikisha first heard reggae in 1975 when her friend visited Jamaica bringing back the albums, CATCH A'FIRE, BURNIN', and NATTY DREAD which ignited her passion for reggae. Through friends who managed Tosh and worked in Marley's band she was around Tosh and Marley in New York. Her first portrait photos are those taken during her 1975 interview with Bob who inspired her photography career when he told her in his Kingston home, "You take some different kind'a photo." The book has 22 chapters with 15 pages of color photographs contributing to over 240 that have never been seen before. Chapters 2 and 3 are brief biographies of Marley and Tosh, chapters 3 through 16, 20,and 21 are the author's actual experiences with these great artists, chapter 17 looks at their impact on society while chapters 18 and 19 listen to Tosh and Marley's mothers, to Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Neville Garrick. The "So Dem Seh" chapter gives tributes, comments and anecdotes from friends,artists and associates. There is a brief glossary and an extended bibliography. An exploration of Rastafari and Marcus Garvey round out the book in the appendix. GET UP! STAND UP! holds your interest throughout the book. It puts you there.

322 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2003