Mitchell Brunings To Perform At Marley Tribute

Veterans in Action will be presenting their annual Bob Marley Tribute Concert on Saturday February 8, 2014 inside the BAA Gymnasium.

“This signature event is held annually to honor the birthday of one of the greatest musical artist of our time”, a spokesperson said. “Bob Marley’s music transcends race, age, color or creed. His message of self upliftment, racial and economic injustice, resonates in the four corners of the globe.

“Last year we had Luciano and Mikey General perform live. This year we are bringing Mitchell Brunings to give live Bob Tributes. Many have regarded Mitchell as Bob reincarnated because of his uncanny voice similarity. Even the Marley siblings have been blown away by his voice.

“Mitchell Brunings is the finalist on the Holland Voice TV Show. He also made it to the top 10 on the Voice Show on NBC two seasons ago. We are certain his voice will bring that wow factor to this years Tribute Concert. Those who are wondering who Mitchell Brunings should visit Youtube and check out a few of this Bob renditions.

“We also have local acts such as Sista Mandy, Shorta Ranks, Gavin and the Chewstick crew, Shine Hayward, and others doing tributes from other artists from Bobs era. Music will be provided by Juggling J, Magnum Force, YGS, Prophecy, and King Jyrus. They will be playing the best of Bob as well as music from Bob’s era as well as cultural artists he influenced today.

“Tickets are only $25. We recognize that we are in a recession so we keep the price low so everyone can afford to attend this great event. Ticket outlets are Belvins in Devonshire and Happy Valley, Kit n Caboodle, Choices Mens Store, Fish n Tings, Caribbean Food Market, Jamaican Grill, Peoples Pharmacy, and Somers in St Georges.

“Gates open at 8pm and showtime is at 9:30 pm. Food and refreshments will be on sale. Part proceeds of this event will go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

“Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica, to Norval Marley and Cedella Booker. His father was a Jamaican of English descent. His mother was a black teenager. The couple planned to get married but Norval left Kingston before this could happen. Norval died in 1955, seeing his son only once.

“Bob Marley started his career with the Wailers, a group he formed with Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston in 1963. Marley married Rita Marley in February 1966, and it was she who introduced him to Rastafarianism. By 1969 Bob, Tosh and Livingston had fully embraced Rastafarianism, which greatly influence Marley’s music in particular and on reggae music in general.

“The Wailers collaborated with Lee Scratch Perry, resulting in some of the Wailers’ finest tracks like “Soul Rebel”, “Duppy Conquerer”, “400 Years” and “Small Axe.” This collaboration ended bitterly when the Wailers found that Perry, thinking the records were his, sold them in England without their consent. However, this brought the Wailers’ music to the attention of Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records.

“Blackwell immediately signed the Wailers and produced their first album, “Catch a Fire”. This was followed by “Burnin’”, featuring tracks as “Get Up Stand Up” and “I Shot the Sheriff.” Eric Clapton’s cover of that song reached #1 in the US. In 1974 Tosh and Livingston left the Wailers to start solo careers.

“Marley later formed the band “Bob Marley and the Wailers”, with his wife Rita as one of three backup singers called the I-Trees. This period saw the release of some groundbreaking albums, such as “Natty Dread”, “Rastaman Vibration”.

“In 1976, during a period of spiraling political violence in Jamaica, an attempt was made on Marley’s life. Marley left for England, where he lived in self-exile for two years. In England “Exodus” was produced, and it remained on the British charts for 56 straight weeks.

“This was followed by another successful album, “Kaya.” These successes introduced reggae music to the western world for the first time, and established the beginning of Marley’s international status.

“In 1977 Marley consulted with a doctor when a wound in his big toe would not heal. More tests revealed malignant melanoma. He refused to have his toe amputated as his doctors recommended, claiming it contradicted his Rastafarian beliefs. Others, however, claim that the main reason behind his refusal was the possible negative impact on his dancing skills. The cancer was kept secret from the general public while Bob continued working.

“Returning to Jamaica in 1978, he continued work and released “Survival” in 1979 which was followed by a successful European tour. In 1980 he was the only foreign artist to participated in the independence ceremony of Zimbabwe. It was a time of great success for Marley, and he started an American tour to reach blacks in the US.

“He played two shows at Madison Square Garden, but collapsed while jogging in NYC’s Central Park on September 21, 1980. The cancer diagnosed earlier had spread to his brain, lungs and stomach. Bob Marley died in a Miami hospital on May 11, 1981. He was 36 years old.”

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