Beating the Drum for Reggae’s Legacy

It was 1973 in Berkeley when Roger Steffens, thumbing through Rolling Stone magazine, became aware of a percolating, distant island music movement called reggae. He sought the sound out in record bins and outdoor stages and, with dizzying speed, it became the unlikely drumbeat of the Brooklyn native’s life.

In the years since, Steffens has become a reggae authority of international renown with a lengthy resume of radio shows, articles and liner notes devoted to the music, born in Jamaica, and rich stories about his personal friendships with many of the genre’s artists, including the late Bob Marley.

Steffens’ passion and possessions are on display at “The World of Reggae Featuring Bob Marley,” an exhibition at the English Village at the Queen Mary complex in Long Beach. Steffens, who hosted “Reggae Beat” for eight years on KCRW-FM (89.9)--the weekly show’s first guest was Marley--and works as a voice-over artist and narrator in film, discussed the multimedia exhibition, whose run concludes this weekend.

Question: You spent three years assembling this exhibition--what were your guiding themes and goals during that time?

Answer: I wanted to demonstrate the vast history of this tiny island’s music. So many forms of music around the world today were born in Jamaica. And not just in Jamaica or in the city of Kingston--but one part of the city, western Kingston. That to me is a phenomenal story. Dub, DJ, rap music, drum-and-bass--all these styles of music that we hear from Japan to Brazil to Australia. I wanted to trace the history chronologically and give special preference to Marley, who was the prow of the reggae icebreaker. There are over 1,000 items from Bob’s history in that exhibition right now.

*

Q: Two decades have passed since Marley’s death. What is your sense now of his legacy as a musical and cultural icon?

A: When the history of our times is written, he will emerge as the most important musical figure of the 20th century, because the effect of his work has been felt more strongly in more places than anyone else. He transcended music. He was not merely a poet or a musician, he was a moral figure. Jack Healey, the president of Amnesty International, says that wherever he goes now, Marley is the symbol of freedom. He was also a person who came from nothing, made millions and gave almost all of it away. He was a selfless evangelist for a better way of living.

*

Q: One of the most intriguing sections of the exhibition is devoted to Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia and the divine, central figure of the Rastafarian faith. It would be difficult to explore reggae without examining his impact, wouldn’t it?

A: Rastafarian faith is the sine qua non of reggae. Marley’s music was informed on every level by the Rastafarian faith. The beat of reggae is the beat of the healthy human heart at rest.

All instruments were forbidden to the slave of Jamaica, so they were left only with the instrument of 10 strings, which is not a harp, it’s the two hands. Those two hands would beat on log drums and carry the rhythms of Africa forward into their Jamaican experience.

So when Jamaica achieved its independence, they wanted to come up with a unique style of music. The first form came from the Rasta faith, and they speeded up the tempo and that was ska music. In 1966, they slowed it down to a rock-steady rhythm based on the heartbeat, and in 1968 that evolved into reggae music.

To many people “reggae” literally means “king’s music.” ... The purpose of reggae is to give thanks and praises to Haile Selassie, who they believe is the fulfillment of the biblical prophesies that when Christ returns to Earth he will no longer return as the lamb to the slaughter but in his kingly character as king of kings.

*

Q: Personal effects of Selassie are some of the most fascinating items in the exhibition. What are some other items for visitors to look out for, be they big and famous or small and curious?

A: Well, there is a [copy of the album] “Bush Doctor” from Peter Tosh from England, which has a scratch-and-sniff, and if you scratch it smells like herb. There are over 2,000 autographed records on display.

I think the most precious piece is a poster signed by Bob Marley and 27 of the people closest to him, including all of his band, the Melody Makers, friends, business associates.

*

“The World of Reggae Featuring Bob Marley” continues through Monday at the English Village at the Queen Mary complex, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $10. Steffens will conduct tours from noon to 6 p.m. today through Monday. (562) 435-3511.