Bunny Wailer - Contributed

Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Bunny Wailer gave the musical perspective from a fellow Wailer and the Marley quartet of Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian sang their father's songs in the familiar land of Nine Miles, St. Ann, as the 'Smile Jamaica' concert capped off a week of celebrations for the Tuff Gong's 62nd birthday.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, hours after the Live Wyya Band had started off the tribute concert with Peter Tosh's Jah Guide, Cocoa Tea had taken all to Rykers Island and Wayne Marshall had seen 'happy days again', among many other performers, Bunny Wailer stepped out lively in white. There was a restart on the first line of Ballroom Floor, a pair at the back twirling on the red dirt and grass.

"Big up all Trench Town related people out there. Although dem do whe dem do to Bredda Bob, still we haffi do wha we haffi do," Wailer said after Trench Town. After 'Don Dada' Wailer delivered Tosh's Legalise It, which moved the large audience, Bunny

Wailer saying that from he was youth Nine Miles was the place for marijuana, even "when dem a talk bout Orange Hill an Stangarine Hill an' Mango Hill." It was the first of a pair of marijuana anthems, Easy Skanking following as Wailer encouraged "if yu have yu spliff, light it now."

Delighted audience

"Big up the Wailing Wailers. A yasso it start. Nine Mile, St. Ann," Bunny Wailer said, going into the ska of Simmer Down, his hands making the traditional scissors motion as he danced, to the delight of the audience. It was a night of many songs from Bunny Wailer to an audience which generally paid attention. "A titty music. Nuff yute deh pon titty (were being breast fed) when dem music a lick. Dem no feget it. Dem get it when dem a get de titty (breastmilk)," Wailer said.

There were cheers at the end of Nice Time and Wailer waved goodbye on One Love.

Stephen led the Marley brothers into their opening song and theme for the concert, Smile Jamaica, Julian and then Ky-Mani singing a verse and the audience cheering as Damian deejayed. Iron, Lion Zion followed, Stephen up front at one point as his brothers grouped around a single microphone to sing harmony, Ky-Mani's brown clothing balancing his brothers' blue.

Julian was mystically like his father on Natural Mystic, Stephen on the kete drum, but as Ky-Mani followed Dear Dad with Crazy Baldheads the stage light and sound went. Ky-mani did not, though, dancing to the beat of the drummer who kept on playing, a flagman waving a red, green and gold banner over the dancing Marley's head. Members of the audience clapped and then sang along with Three Little Birds, cheering when power came back after a seven-minute break.

And they roared as Damian leapt forward with "tell dem no draw me out."

It was a night in honour of Bob, Damian delivering War, Stephen asking "come we bun dung Babylon one more time," Julian led off Stir it Up and the women squealed for Ky-Mani's delivery of Turn Your Lights Down Low.

There was a detour into their music, Justice, It Was Written, Traffic Jam and Khaki Suit hitting hard, the audience roaring as Bounty Killer intoned 'lord have mercy' and then ripped the house apart with his lines in the song.

The Marleys ended by taking turns on Could You Be Loved.

Before they performed Wayne Marshall had complimented them, saying "De yute dem coulda come live offa dem faada legacy, but dem work hard fe create dem own legacy."

And MC Denise 'Isis' Miller, said "yu 'ave some people, whe coulda bleach an' bleach again an' if dem coulda mek Bob have jheri curl dem woulda dweet. Dem vex, de Rastaman go all ova de worl'."