Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
A young Aston 'Family Man' Barrett. - FILE
ON MAY 11, fans of reggae legend, Bob Marley, marked the 25th anniversary of his death. That same day Aston 'Family Man' Barrett, his former colleague in The Wailers band, lost a long-running battle in the British High Court.
Three years ago, Barrett filed a lawsuit against the Marley family and Universal-Island Records for non-payment of royalties.
He also filed on behalf of Carlton 'Carly' Barrett, his younger brother and former drummer in the legendary band, who was murdered in 1987.
According to the 60-year-old 'Fams', he and Carly are owed millions in royalties dating back to February 1981 when Marley died without leaving a will.
But High Court Judge, Kim Lewison, ruled in favour of the Marleys and Universal-Island. He said that Barrett had signed off his rights to further royalties when he agreed to a US$500,000 settlement in 1994.
Adding insult to injury, Lewison issued an order barring Barrett from taking any further action without the court's permission.
FRIENDSHIP
"We always felt that this would be the outcome, and it was hard to listen to Aston Barrett reduce his friend Bob to someone who was more interested in playing football than making music,'' the Marley family said in a statement issued after the judgment.
The Associated Press quoted Lewison as saying Barrett had the "greatest difficulty'' in answering questions about business dealings and his testimony was not reliable.
"His recollection of events was hazy; and I also consider that, as often happens, he has reconstructed events in his mind according to how he would like them to have been,'' Lewison said.
Barrett left court with a hefty legal bill, estimated at two million pounds. There was also the startling revelation that he fathered 52 children, hence his nickname.
The Barrett brothers were establishing themselves as studio musicians when they first met The Wailers, Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston (Wailer) in 1968.
From the Beeston Street section of Kingston, they were members of the Hippy Boys band as well as The Upsetters, producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry's house band.
GROUP SPLIT
They played on Duppy Conqueror, a seminal hit song for The Wailers. When the group split acrimoniously with Perry in 1971, the Barretts went with them.
Marley, Tosh and Livingston signed with Island Records the following year, cutting two critically-acclaimed albums Catch A Fire and Burnin'. But just before the group's third album for the London-based company was released, Tosh and Livingston left.
That album, Natty Dread, was released in 1974 and is considered by musicologists to be the record that launched Marley worldwide. Carly is credited as writer and cowriter, respectively, on Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) and Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock).
'Family Man' is credited as writer of Talkin' Blues.
On 1976's Rastaman Vibration, Carly is listed as author of Want More. The siblings get credit for co-writing Who The Cap Fit while Family Man and football star Alan 'Skill' Cole are named as writers of War.
Since Marley's death, there have been several lawsuits dealing with royalties. Danny Sims, the African-American producer, and the estates of Tosh and Wailer, have all settled suits with the Marleys and Island Records.
During the last 25 years, Aston Barrett has helped hold The Wailers together. He has filled the role his friend, Bob Marley, once held by leading the band through countless world tours.
In the aftermath of the May 11 ruling, it's left to be seen if The Wailers will ever perform again.
All in the family: Barrett brothers trivia
Aston Barrett was reportedly an unruly teenager. He served one year at the Cobbla Youth Camp in Manchester.
He is a major influence on Robbie Shakespeare who played bass on Concrete Jungle, from The Wailers' Catch A Fire album.
The Barretts played on Return of Django, produced by 'Scratch' Perry. It was a minor hit in the United Kingdom.
They worked with some of reggae's creative producers in the 1970s including Augustus Pablo. They played on his dub classic, Rockers Meets King Tubby's Uptown.
They also played on Peter Tosh's major record label debut album, Legalise It.
Both were with Marley when he was shot at his St. Andrew home in December 1976.
