David Rodigan’s passion for Jamaican music led him to become one of the most honored radio DJs in history, so it’s no surprise that he had a great friendship with Bob Marley. In the latest episode of the online video series Bob Marley & I, Rodigan recalls his chance encounter with the reggae icon.
In the video, Rodigan talks about meeting Marley for the first time at the London offices of Island Records. He took the opportunity to introduce himself and invited Marley on his reggae radio show on Capital FM. Marley then played a cassette tape for Rodigan, which ended up being one of his classics, “Could You Be Loved.”
Rodigan recalls: “At the end of listening to this song, he said to me, ‘So as a radio DJ, do you think that mix is suitable for FM radio in New York or AM radio?’ I said, ‘That sounds like a good FM mix.’ And he said, ‘Okay, I’ll bring it with me tomorrow night. You’ll have it as a world exclusive’.”
The previous episode of Bob Marley & I featured London journalist and author of Bob Marley: The Untold Story, Chris Salewicz. His tenure as senior features writer at British music magazine NME from 1975 to 1981 led to friendships with various artists, including Marley. In Salewicz’s episode, he recalls meeting the reggae icon for the first time in 1979 and following Marley to Jamaica’s Gun Court to protest the incarceration of an innocent man. “It wasn’t easy being Bob Marley. It’s not just writing music,” Salewicz said. “There’s a whole other cultural thing going on.”
Bob Marley & I is part of a year-long celebration commemorating 80 years since Marley’s birth. Billed as Bob Marley’s 80th Earthstrong Celebrations, the festivities kicked off back in February with an ‘Uprising’ Tribute Concert livestream from the Marley family’s Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ziggy Marley’s Tuff Gong Worldwide recently announced the re-release of 2012’s Marley via streaming platforms. The documentary will also receive a special 80th Collector’s Edition DVD, which includes two hours of never-before-seen interview footage with the reggae icon’s friends and family. A limited summer theatrical run of Marley will also be announced in June.
“I know Daddy would have a huge smile on his face and be so proud to know that his words of freedom, love, and unity would be sung by so many beautiful young souls around the world over 50 years after he wrote them,” said Marley’s daughter, Cedella Marley. “It’s a huge testament to the power of his music that his songs resonate stronger than ever and with each new generation. My father’s songs speak universal truths and that is why they sound as convincing coming out of the mouths of children as they did when he himself recorded and performed them.”
Listen to Bob Marley’s Legend now.
