Reggae legend
BURNING SPEAR

The way the whole thing came about is that I found myself moving along up in the hills of St. Ann's and I ran into Bob Marley....Bob was going to his farm with a donkey and some buckets and a fork, and cutlass and plants. We just reason man-to-man and I-man say wherein I would like to get involved in the music business. And Bob say, 'All right, just check Studio One.'"
—Burning Spear

One of the most revered figures in the history of reggae music, Burning Spear—a.k.a. Winston Rodney—is among the greatest voices ever to emerge from Jamaica. His message-based music has always promoted self-determination, self-reliance, self-improvement, honesty, peace and love. Growing up in the parish of St Ann's in Jamaica, the same musical hotbed that produced the Wailers, Spear made his first recording of "Door Peep" in 1969 for the now-legendary Studio One label at the urging of his friend Bob Marley. Spear recorded his first two albums at Studio One, then moved to Island Records in the 1970s, releasing a string of classic recordings—Marcus Garvey, Man in the Hills, Garvey's Ghost—that reshaped the face of reggae music with an emphasis on heavy, politically and socially charged music. The success of these records blasted Burning Spear into the international limelight and cemented his place in the pantheon of reggae greats. In the three decades since, as Burning Spear edged into living legend status, the quality of his prolific output has never waned. He shows no sign of slowing down. His concerts regularly last over two hours and deliver more vibrant energy than many rock bands half his age. We are proud to present one of reggae's greatest voices.