Renowned photographer Kate Simon has reflected on some of her memories working with Bob Marley, on what would have marked his 80th birthday.
Simon enjoyed a close friendship with the reggae icon, and shot the famous picture used as the artwork for his 1978 album with The Wailers, Kaya.
Speaking to The Independent, Simon recalled spending weeks at a time on the road with the “Buffalo Soldier” star, who died from cancer in 1981, aged 36.
I remember everything about working with Bob,” she said. “But I would say my strongest memories are being with him riding his bike and when he was playing soccer, or visiting him at his house on Oakley street in London.”
Marley was “the best performer” she had ever seen, she said: “He was just unbelievable. So my memories are split between those normal moments and then him as the big rock star.”
Her favourite memory, though, was visiting Marley at his home at 56 Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica, shortly after he performed his One Love Peace concert and joined hands with political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga, at a time of great unrest.
“I went to see him the day after,” Simon said, “and being with him and taking his photograph then, I saw how rewarded he felt – he felt so good that he had managed to make that happen.
“That's my best memory of Bob because he had this Coptic cross around his neck, and he picked it up so it was focused on the camera. He really felt that there was a Jah-inspired victory for him – he had brought these two warring parties together.
“It was really incredible. I was at that concert, and so the day after, to see him feel like he had really achieved that was a great memory.”
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