Latest salute in film:

BASIL WALTERS, Observer staff reporter

Bob Marley
BOB Marley and Friend, is the latest project documenting the life and work of the reggae monarch. A number of the songs being recorded for this documentary are produced by Paul "Dr Paul" Hamilton.

Splash caught up with the founding member of the Ryddim Kings Band who explained the concept of the documentary, when he breezed through the island recently.

Like its self-explanatory title, Bob Marley and Friend, could easily have been called, "the making of a musical genius or legend".

Unlike other such projects, it is not just about the reggae superstar, but about the people who were around him, rubbing shoulders with him on the way to stardom.

"We a talk bout a project call Bob Marley and Friends. I'm producing some songs...it's a documentary on Bob Marley and the people around,"Dr Paul told Splash.

"But we a take a different angle, in that, we talk bout, not so much Bob alone, but the people that him influenced," was how the bass player/producer elaborated.

Among the people who had an impact on Marley's life and who he in turn influenced are people like Bunny Wailer, Mortimo Planno, Allan "Skill" Cole, King Sporty (who wrote Buffalo Soldier, all of whom are included in the documentary.

Third World Band who opened for the reggae legend on his first European tour in the early 1970s, will perform their interpretation of Marley's Natural Mystic produced for the documentary by Dr Paul and recorded at his new studio, Dr Paul's Productions.

Bob Marley and Friends doesn't concentrate much on the immediate family, Hamilton explains, but mother Cedella and wife Rita along with Kymani and Ziggy will be appearing in it.

The documentary will also feature Marcia Griffiths, Hamilton said. British pop star Seal will perform one of Marley's songs while ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean renders No Woman Nuh Cry. Jimmy Cliff is in there too, with a rendition of that same song. There is also footage of Peter Tosh, as well as of musicians such as Santa Davis and Keith Sterling.

Shaping up to be much like the Tribute concert at the James Bond Beach sometime ago, the difference this time, is the number of in-depth interviews of the people involved talking about how Marley influenced their work.

It will also see participation of a 30-member strong Fort Lauderdale-based Dillard School of the Arts choir doing Redemption Song. This is another of the songs produced by Hamilton.

And according to the bass player/producer, efforts are being made to include international pop stars Stevie Wonder and Santana as well as Dr Carlton "Pee Wee" Fraser (who was Marley's doctor) in the project.

The documentary, which has been in the making for about a year now, is scheduled to be released by the end of February -- Bob Marley Month. It is being financed and produced by a company named Mobile Vision out of Miami.

Prior to this project the company undertook a similar project with the group KISS. The documentary will be marketed worldwide.