Reggae is often considered the music of the third world, the music of
the oppressed, which may explain its tentative place in American mass
media pop culture. While rock and roll and rap music have consistently
been the dominant musical styles as far as sales charts, reggae has
provided some of the most memorable artists and songs in modern music.
Bob Marley’s Exodus was named the album of the 20th century by Time
Magazine while his song “One Love, People Get Ready” was named the song
of the century by the BBC.
Livicated provides an overview of the genre by focusing on Roger
Steffens, host of countless reggae radio and television programs,
founding editor of the genre’s premiere magazine The BEAT, and collector
of the largest archive of reggae music and memorabilia in the world.
Steffens talks about how his experiences during the Vietnam War shaped
his beliefs and opened him to the beliefs of Rastafari and reggae, the
music closely associated with the spiritual philosophy.
Steffens would go on to become the world’s eminent reggae historian, and
in Livicated he shares previously unreleased songs and interviews with
the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Fela Kuti, Carlos Santana, Ben
Harper, and more as he prepares to move his collection to become the
basis for the National Museum of Reggae in Jamaica.
-- Dan Krovich
Presented By: Erik E. Crown
Biography: Erik Crown has been involved in filmmaking since the
age of 16, when he created and directed his first cable TV show for
TCI/Jones. At the New York City School of Film he wrote and directed
several short films including one for Judith Malena and Robert Sean
Leonard as well as a music promotional video featuring George Clinton.
While working on his own projects, Erik has supported himself by working
as an editor and in various other production capacities, most recently
on the television series, Scrubs.
