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Bunny Wailer celebrates 70th with Wailer's museum launch
The month of April marks Rastafari month, with the 10th of April this year being of particular significance, with the opening of The Wailers Museum in celebration of the 70th birthday of Neville ‘Jah B’ Livingston, aka Bunny Wailer.
He, along with Peter Tosh and Bob Marley formed The Wailers, the band that propelled all three men to international superstardom. Both a day of joy and great sorrow for Jah B, April 10th 2017 also marks the 26th anniversary of his fathers death.
The opening of The Wailers Museum completes the sacred trinity of museums in Kingston, the two others being The Peter Tosh Museum and of course, The Bob Marley Museum.
At the event, live drummers accompanied The Wailer's recording of Soul Rebel, with the volume of the track gradually falling silent to leave just the sound of the drummers no doubt carried along by a gentle Jamaican breeze.
Speeches on the day came from friends, family and close associates, with topics including Jah B's desire of repatriation to Africa, and the criminal charges against the now celebrated black civil rights proponent Marcus Garvey. Celebrity guests included Fred Locks and Capleton.
The Wailers formed in the early 1960s in Trenchtown, the infamous slums of Kingston. Their two albums from 1973 are regarded as seminal, helping to cement reggae’s undisputed global popularity. Livingston, Marley and Tosh then went on to pursue solo careers that have forever influenced the genre’s future development and continuing legacy.
Bob Marley sadly passed away (allegedly) from cancer under mysterious circumstances in 1981 at the young age of 36.
Peter Tosh also died tragically, murdered at his home in 1987 at just 42 years old.
Jah B, a Jamaican national hero, revered international reggae icon and the last of The Wailers lives on, having won a whole host of awards and accolades throughout his distinguished career, including three Grammys.
The Wailers Museum opens to the general public in the near future.
@PhillyTea
