Burning Spear: The Spear still burning after 30 years

Winston Rodney alias Burning Spear: His Music, the message and global impact

By Joel Savage

Burning Spear, is no doubt one of the greatest reggae artists the world has ever known. Born as Winston Rodney, on Ist March 1945, in Saint Ann's Bay in Jamaica, musicians such as "The Maytals" and "Bob Marley and the Wailers" influenced him. According to him, it was his encounter with Bob Marley, that ignited his life to fame from 1969. He has then made a couple of songs, but doesn't know where to start. Then Bob told him to go to "Studio One" and he did. Today among great reggae artists, his music could be heard in every part of the world.

In the lives of individuals, many do remember the mistake one does, than all the good things the person has done. But Burning Spear never forgot the direction Bob gave to him. He gave credit to Bob Marley in his song "As it is" taken from the Grammy Award winning album " Calling Rastafari " Part of the lyrics goes like this "I start singing in the late sixties. Told about Studio One by Bob Marley" But who is actually this man called Burning Spear and why did he chose such a name unto himself?

It is very hard to describe a person when one haven't met him personally, to interact with him to know his views, options and philosophies. But like the waves retreating into the sea, I went back and compiled the names of some of his old songs to the present and that vividly awared my consciousness the music and the message of Burning Spear. Yes "Man in the hills, far over, calling rastafari, the world should know, raster business and the spear burning in Jah Kindom. His mistress music don't sell out and freedom and identity will make him a free man" That's Burning Spear.

Article Author: Joel Savage

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