Bob Marley tribute at Darlington

LEGEND, the show that pays tribute to Bob Marley’s distinctive vocals, that sold in excess of 100 million copies worldwide, will be touring to Darlington in March.

Promoted by Easy Theatres, the creators of the Magic of Motown, the production features timeless, million-selling hits such as Could You Be Loved, Is This Love, One Love, No Woman No Cry, Three Little Birds, Jamming and Buffalo Soldier.

The show moves from Bob Marley’s ska roots with the Wailers – including reggae anthems Stir it Up and Get Up, Stand Up – to the 1970s and 1980s pinnacle of his recording career. Easy Theatres’ MD Michael Taylor says: “There is a truly talented cast that has performed with Desmond Decker, Dennis Brown, The Mighty Diamonds, Errol Dunkley and Burning Spear.”

The legend of Bob Marley continues to this day – the album Exodus was awarded Time Magazine’s album of the century and his single One Love was honoured as the BBC’s Song of the Millennium.

The compilation album Legend has amassed album sales of ten million copies and is still selling 250,000 copies a year.

During Marley's funeral eulogy, the then Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga said: “Such a man cannot be erased from the mind.”

Five facts about Bob Marley:

He was derogatorily nicknamed White Boy as a child due to his mixed-race make-up.

His socially-aware lyrics stemmed from time living in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica.

In 1976, just before he was to play a free concert aimed at reducing political tensions in his home town, he was attacked by a gunman. Bullets grazed both Bob and his wife, Rita.

It’s claimed that Bob Marley and the Wailers were released as support for Sly and the Family Stone from a 17-city tour for “being too good”.

He was listed by Forbes Magazine as the fifth highest-earning dead celebrity.

* Legend: The Music of Bob Marley, Thursday, March 10, 7.30pm. Darlington Civic Theatre, Parkgate, Darlington, Durham, DL1 1RR. Box Office: 01325-486555, darlingtoncivic.co.uk or easytheatres.com