Sat 3/2 @ 8PM
The genre of reggae music, which emerged from Jamaica in the late 60s blending ska, rocksteady and &B influences, has many fathers (and, like most musical genres, only a handful of “mothers”) and produced many noted names. But it’s clear that its most dominant figure was Bob Marley who died in 1981 at the age of 36 of a rare cancer. Marley’s tunes comprise the bedrock repertoire of many reggae bands to this day and it seems like celebrations in his honor (often held around his February 6 birthday) are continual.
It’s also clear that Cleveland’s most dominant reggae music is Carlos Jones, who has been performing with such popular area reggae bands as I-Tal and First Light since the 70s, and has been fronting his own ensemble, the P.L.U.S. Band, since the mid 90s, attracting audiences with his sunny personality and upbeat music. And down in Columbus, the reggae scene is dominated by the Ark Band, founded in the mid 80s by brothers Terry and Eustace Bobb from St. Lucia. They too have grown a following “up north” in Cleveland in their many appearances here.
Together they’ll be celebrating the life and music of Bob Marley at the Music Box Supper Club with both bands likely to pull their favorite Marley tunes from their copious repertoires. Get tickets here.
Cleveland, OH 44113