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Product Description A revelatory, myth-shattering history of one of the most influential musicians of all time, told in the words of those who knew him best. Roger Steffens is one of the world’s leading Bob Marley experts. He toured with the Wailers in the 1970s and was closely acquainted with Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh and the rest of the band members. Over several decades he has interviewed more than seventy-five friends, business managers, relatives and confidants―many speaking publicly for the first time. Forty years in the making, So Much Things to Say weaves this rich testimony into a definitive telling of the life of the reggae king―the full, inside account of how a boy from the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, became a cultural icon and inspiration to millions around the world. The intimacy of the voices and the frankness of their revelations will astonish even longtime Marley fans. Readers see the intense bonds of teenage friendship among Peter, Bunny and Bob, the vibrant early sessions with the original Wailers (as witnessed by members Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso and Cherry Green) and the tumultuous relationships with Rita Marley and Cindy Breakspeare. With unprecedented candor, these interviews tell dramatic, little-known stories, from the writing of some of Marley’s most beloved songs to the Wailers’ violent confrontation involving producer Lee “Scratch” Perry, Bob’s intensive musical training with star singer Johnny Nash and the harrowing assassination attempt at 56 Hope Road in Kingston, which led to Marley’s defiant performance two nights later with a bullet lodged in his arm. Readers witness Marley’s rise to international fame in London, his triumphant visit to Zimbabwe to sing for freedom fighters inspired by his anthems and the devastating moment of his collapse while jogging in New York’s Central Park. Steffens masterfully conducts the story of Marley’s last months, as Marley poignantly sings “Another One Bites the Dust” during the sound check before his final concert in Pittsburgh, followed by his tragic death at the age of thirty-six. So Much Things to Say explores major controversies, examining who actually ordered the shooting attack on Hope Road, scrutinizing claims of CIA involvement and investigating why Marley’s fatal cancer wasn’t diagnosed sooner. Featuring Steffens’s own candid photographs of Marley and his circle, this magisterial work preserves an invaluable, transformative slice of music history: the life of the legendary performer who brought reggae to the international stage. 40 photographs Review " So Much Things to Say is a fascinating page-turner which leaves conclusions to the reader." ― Gleaner "This sprawling but gripping biography is a fitting tribute to Jamaica’s favourite son." ― The Guardian "There has never been and will never be anything quite like this: Reggae's chief eyewitness, dropping testimony on Reggae's chief prophet with truth, blood, and fire." ― Marlon James, Man Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven Killings " [So Much Things to Say] narrates the life of Marley from cradle to grave… Steffens has been on the Marley case for decades, and he’s a crucial voice in this epic chorus….Illuminating." ― Touré, New York Times "What emerges [from So Much Things to Say] isn’t a different Marley so much as one who feels a bit more human." ― Hua Hsu, The New Yorker "If Bob Marley is Jesus in these times, Roger Steffens is Peter." ― Carlos Santana " So Much Things to Say is by far the most important and definitive book written about Bob Marley, therefore in my opinion the best book about Jamaican music. It ranks with Mezz Mezzrow's Really the Blues masterpiece, Mike Gerber's Jazz Jews and Keith Richards' Life. It's beyond a book about music, it's a major ethnology study. Just like the best Mandela or Gandhi or Lennon biographies, it's about mankind on an anthropologic level. It's about identity, culture, pride, spirituality ― it helps us understand