Today is the sixth day of Black History Month. Over the course of the month, I’ll spend some time paying tribute to Black artists across a wide and diverse array of genres and styles. My hope is that these posts should serve as an important reminder that the Black experience is the American experience, that Black culture is American culture — and importantly, Black lives and Black art matter. You can’t love Black art and Black artists without giving a shit about Black people.
This month won’t be a comprehensive study of Black music. It’ll be more idiosyncratic because — well, JOVM after all. Now, if you’ve been following this site, you may recall that so far I’ve paid tribute to:
- Chaka Khan
- Reverend Al Green
- The Whispers
- Rick James
- Aretha Franklin
- Sylvester
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- Chuck Berry
- Donna Summer
- Janet Jackson
- Prince
- The Isley Brothers
- James Brown
- Whitney Houston
This post serves dual purposes: It continues the ongoing Black History Month series — but in addition, it celebrates the 77th anniversary of Bob Marley’s birth.
Can you think of an artist more beloved or as influential both in his homeland and globally as Bob Marley? Probably not. It helps that he wrote some of the most beloved and sweetest love songs of his day — and some of the most righteous protest songs ever written.
Happy birthday, Bob! Happy birthday, wherever you are!
