The 61st anniversary of Bob Marley's birthday is Monday but the celebrating begins this weekend. A number of small outdoor concerts and gatherings are planned throughout the city. On Sunday the action moves to the BTL park for the "Bob Marley Tribute and Family Day." But our next story isn't so much about the tribute, it is more about the organizer. Keith Swift has the story of a man who just might be the ultimate Bob Marley fan.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Joel Robinson Jr., aka Dara, is a part-time entrepreneur and fulltime Bob Marley fanatic. This 34 year old listens to Bob, wears Bob Marley clothing, paints Marley murals on his walls, decorates his house with Marley memorabilia, and just in time for the 61st anniversary of Bob Marley's birthday, Dara has made this:
Joel Robinson,
"I don't want to say it is a statue or a dolly because it sounds too funny but it's just something I built because normally when I do my show I want to come creative. I am not really an artist. I draw but I just wanted to do something different from what everybody else does and I decided to build something like a statue."
So yes Dara is the ultimate Bob Marley fan which is a fascination his girlfriend Melanie Murray says took some getting used to.
Melanie Murray,
"From I met this man he was Bob Marley. He wanted a Bob Marley house so he got his dream house but I ended up changing a little spot for myself without all the Bob Marley pictures and so and so. I already got used to it. He is a big fan of Bob Marley and I can't change that; from I met him he was like this so I can't change somebody."
Keith Swift,
Are you a Bob Marley fan?
Melanie Murray,
"Yes I listen to Bob Marley but I am not as obsessed as he is." [Laughs.]
Joel Robinson,
"I don't want people to feel like I just jumped up and said Bob Marley because I am a Bob Marley fanatic, I've been a fan from about the age of 12 to 13 when I decided to choose to live my life this way and follow him through his music. Even when I get mad, before I take it out of the person, I come home and play Bob and it relaxes me and I find myself, through his music and his words and his story, becoming a humble young man."
And for further proof that Dara might the ultimate Bob Marley fan, there is this: a Bob Marley train. Its actually a source of income for him and that train along with the bust will be moved to the BTL Park on Sunday for what this ultimate fan says will be the ultimate tribute.
Joel Robinson,
"We'll be doing a tribute at the BTL Park and also a family day celebrating Bob Marley's heart and music. The reason I said family day is because I also have a Bob Marley train that kids can ride in and thing. I'll split the park in two so kids can ride it over one side and on the other side we have the event. I want them to bring their kids and people who don't really know about Bob Marley to come out and get the idea. I want the people to understand this tribute is something I want to carry on and I am looking to do this until maybe I give up, which in I don't want."
Sunday's tribute begins at 6 pm at the BTL Park and runs through to midnight. And if you are wondering, Robinson's all time favorite Bob Marley song is "turn the lights down low."
