Jan
11
2010
Bob Marley in Central Park
Author: SamA city this large is bound to have a lot of ghosts, and a lot of memories. It doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the most vital centers of culture in the world, attracting artists from every nation, and every generation births another batch of young and talented people who see this city as their destination to begin or complete a life work. It’s particularly exciting to find footprints of your most beloved icons somewhere in the city, and it’s almost dizzying to realize how many famous writers, poets, and musicians have been here. You can try booking a hotel in Central Park near where your hero once walked.
Or jogged, as the case may be. In a particularly absurd death, Bob Marley had his last run here, suffering a stroke while jogging at only 36 years of age. Fans often overlook the very mundane details of such a spectacular life, but it was cancer that was discovered when he’d had a toe removed that eventually took his life. He was born under a rising star, and rode it as far as he possibly could. His achievements were no less than legendary, giving a remarkable depth to a music that moved millions, and inspired change.
It still inspires change. Every generation that gets enchanted by Jamaica’s home-grown music discovers the influence of Bob Marley. Although there are scores of excellent musicians who follow in his footsteps, both in terms of musical talent and revolutionary fervor, none can match his enormous impact, and perhaps that’s exactly how it should be. In Central Park, these are enormously significant footprints, and they cannot be erased by time, and there’s no signs of willingness to forget. The beat goes on, and the lyrics are poignant reminders of a visionary who was not afraid to stomp the terra.
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