Hit Me With Music: Roots. Rock. Reggae

In his new book, Jaffe reveals the world of the Wailers during their early years as an international act from 1973 to 1975, a socially and politically transformative period in Jamaican history. He also explores the start of Peter Tosh’s solo career in 1976 with the revolutionary album, Legalize It.

Lee Jaffe is a cross-disciplinary visual artist, musician and poet whose photographs highlight the Wailers featuring Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer during the last three years that they performed together. Jaffe and Marley first met in the New York hotel room of Traffic drummer and songwriter Jim Capaldi, starting a close creative partnership and friendship with the reggae legend. He lived with Marley at 56 Hope Road in Jamaica for three years, and was a participant in the international emergence of reggae music. He became a member of the band, performing on stage and in the studio with Marley, as well as working with Peter Tosh, producing his iconic debut album, Legalize It. He later produced records for seminal Jamaican acts including Joe Higgs, Wailing Souls, Barrington Levy, and Morgan Heritage.

Throughout their time together, Jaffe’s portraits of these legendary performers are set against the backdrop of a politically and socioeconomically turbulent Jamaica. His detailed first-person accounts and stories are accompanied by his photographs, providing music fans with key moments that inspired some of Marley’s most beloved lyrics and songs. This book embodies the energy of reggae culture.

Lee Jaffe is a visual artist, filmmaker, writer, musician and producer who has worked with legendary artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He’s given acclaimed exhibitions in major museums internationally, authored numerous books and produced music throughout his career. Chris Blackwell is a Jamaican-British record producer and the founder of Island Records.