Art Bites: Happy Birthday Bob Marley From Toronto, Legends of Reggae Tribute presents the Bob Marley Edition

Art Bites: Happy Birthday Bob! One Love Wishes From The 6Ix. 

Saturday was Bob Marley Day in the city of Toronto. For the 30th year in a row, the city has issued an official proclamation in honour of Jamaica’s reggae icon. Marley, who was born on February 6th, 1945 died in 1981, is honoured around the globe on the 6th for his music and his legacy of promoting peace. 

“ Bob Marley always tried to use his influence to help tear down the walls of apartheid and promote unity,” said John Tory, the mayor of Toronto, as he read the city proclamation on camera (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQwcfgBR_IU&feature=youtu.be). “Today his music continues to inspire and uplift people throughout the world.”

Every year the Bob Marley Day Committee holds a ceremony in Toronto to mark February 6th.  During the ceremony the committee, headed up by Toronto lawyer Courtney Betty, always recognize individuals for their contribution in “building our City and our country.”

In 2021, because of the Covid shutdown, the live ceremony was cancelled. The committee has though, given out its annual Bob Marley Awards to politicians, organizers, arts workers and medical  experts for their good work. The nine people who received the Award this year are:

Celina Caesar-Chavannes – A new author and the former Liberal MP for the Whitby riding

Jennie Esnard  - actress, known for Christmas Jars and Awakening the Zodiac 

Theresa Betty - founder of the Canadian / Jamaican branding Pineapple Network 

Dr. Aubrey Zidenberg - V.P. of B'nai Brith International & Chair, Human Rights Advisory Council. Chevalier de France.

Andria Barrett - President - Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce

Nicholas Marcus Thompson - Award-winning social justice advocate & union leader

Velma Morgan - teacher and advocate for gender and cultural diversity in politics. Chair of Operation Black Vote Canada 

Balarama Holness is a multidisciplinary educator, research professional and former CFL football player

Director X - Julien Christian Lutz, credited professionally as Director X, is a Canadian film and music video director and producer. 

Art Bites 2 - Legends of Reggae Tribute presents the Bob Marley Edition – Free and Online

The producers of the annual GTA summer Jambana Reggae Festival have just posted an on-line Tribute to the Legends of Reggae: The Bob Marley Edition. 

The Bob Marley Edition features well-known Canadian and International reggae acts performing  Bob Marley music including Chelsea Stewart (pictured above).

‘Tribute to the Legends of Reggae’ serves to entertain, educate and inspire audiences by bringing together today's rising stars alongside legendary bands and nostalgic sounds,” said Jessie Jones, head of the Jones and Jones Group. “It’s not a one-time event either. It’s even better. Every week there will be new performances - all 9 artists did sets so each week one song from each artist will drop on the site.” 

The set list for Week One includes Juno Award winners Exco Levi and Jay Douglas.  Reggae TV pioneer Master T is part of the online tribute with conversations about Bob Marley and the greats of the musical genre.  

Week 1 content for Bob Marley Edition is up now at: www.tributetothelegendsofreggae.com