I was 14, it was Christmas break from school and I had been saving since September to buy the latest records, (single song 45’s, one I remember was ‘Police and thief in the streets,Junior Murvin).
School was out, closed ‘½ day’ as was common on the last day of the term. I took a bus from Calabar High School, Red Hills Road, to a little record shop in Premier Plaza, about a 15 minute ride.
As i walked up there was a guy sitting on the step, huge, his height was clear even though he was sitting. He wore short dreadlocks. He was not well dressed, but his clothes looked expensive. He work dark glasses. He was talking to a man who though standing was almost on eye level with the seated figure.
I rushed past, focused on getting my songs. Minutes later my money was spent, down to my return bus fare. I picked up the bag and prepared for the long walk back home.
There were only two steps from the sidewalk to the pavement, but I did not get to the bottom.
The tall dark man with short dreads comfortably sat on the sidewalk, with his feet firmly planted on the ground, two steps below, I had descended one step and stopped to stare.
The man had just said he was better than Bob Marley.
Bob is one of my heroes. Earlier that year I had given my father 2 Bob Marley Albums for his birthday, a thinly disguised ploy to get to play Bob’s music in the house. And here was a man, loudly proclaiming before my eyes, to at least be his equal.
This got my attention, a quick assessment of the situation convinced me that I was in no position to enter the conversation, much less contradict the speaker.
I did what does not come naturally, Stood and listened.
He spoke of struggles and ability, opportunity and failure, of confidence and betrayal. He spoke with passion, with certainty, with conviction and authority.
He spoke unaware of anyone listening, oblivious to his surroundings.
Most of what he said is lost. His manner will be with me always. But the words I will never forget are ‘when I release my Buckingham Palace, the world will know’.
Sitting on the step was Peter Tosh, an original Wailer with Bob Marley and the Wailers. Within a few years his solo album ‘Mystic Man’ was released, featuring the hit single Buck-In-Hamm Palace, a crossover beat that proved to be one of the most popular songs from this most underrated artist.
This was my first experience of someone saying what they were going to do and then doing it. Big outrageous claims, it all looked very improbable on the steps at Premier Plaza. Maybe he was not better than Bob, but he believed he was the best, and set out to prove it.
Peter Tosh died at about the same time I was beginning my Bobsled journey, shot in his home.
For me, his belief, and confidence were inspiring and, opened up a new world of possibilities.
Fast forward to 1988, we are on an appearance in LA after the Olympic Games, the Jamaica Bobsleigh Team. We went to a Lakers game, sat in the changing room with Magic and Kareem before the game. We left through a back exit at halftime in order to make it to another appearance.
As we descended the steps there was a lone figure sitting maybe half way down, truly huge, looking like a small building that had been dropped there.
As we went by and turned to look, there was Mike Tyson, Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Someone braver than I said ‘champ can we take a picture with you, we are the Jamaica Bobsleigh Team’.
‘Shiiiit, four niggers on the ice! I saw that’
The champ has taken some blows since then, but he keeps coming back, and maybe has learned some things.
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