Roger Steffens’ 65th-& Final-Tour of the “Bob Marley One Love Experience” / Video

It’s impossible to overstate the positive contribution Roger Steffens has made to reggae. And Steffens has done it through so many varied vehicles, including: radio broadcasts; speeches; brilliant photography; interviews; his prodigious “Reggae Archives” (recently purchased by Joe Bogdanovich-heir of the founder of Starkist Tuna-who plans to move Roger’s epic, one-of-a-kind collection to Jamaica); album liner notes and magazine articles Steffens has written; and, of course, multiple books Steffens has authored, including his magnum opus, “So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley.”
Adding to all this, Roger recently served as the official tour guide for the “Bob Marley One Love Experience”-a visually stunning, informative, well-crafted exhibition, replete with photography, art, and artifacts; a traveling exhibit, it was on display at the Ovation Hollywood, in Los Angeles, between January and May.
Of course when Roger-with whom I’ve been friends with ever since moving to California-invited me to come, on May 20, to his 65th and final tour of the “Bob Marley One Love Experience,” I leaped at the opportunity. There was no way I could pass it up, especially when Roger secured permission for me to film, photograph, and publish the content I would happily soak up from this historic and irie happening. I wanted to be sure the reggae family worldwide could, for all of time, benefit from the wealth of reggae-knowledge Roger-a wise and still-spry octogenarian-has acquired (and which he so generously and colorfully bestowed to all the many tour participants he entertained and educated).
What follows is a video made of clips shot at the exhibit. Give thanks also to Mike’s wife, Leslie Pawka, for photographing Steffens and I together during the tour, and bless up Jonathan Shank-as well as Universal and the Marley family-for authorizing the publication of all the media contained in this article. The highest respect and many thanks are due, also, to the legendary and incomparable Roger Steffens.
Photos/Clips by Stephen Cooper
Edited by Teacher@ReggaeVibes
Video compiled by Teacher@ReggaeVibes
©2023 Stephen Cooper

[@AliceDeLoria]

I have your latest Bob Marley book along with several others, I’m obviously a lover of Bob Marley and Reggae music! I am so glad you put this out on KZbin as I missed the One Love experience but am waiting it to open in Vegas at the end of 2024 although being very Vegas I’m sure it won’t be the same. I just want to thank you for all your work and time you put into sharing your love of Reggae and Mr Marley, it truly means so much to me!❤️

[@jeffmmal]

Thanks for this!

[@jamaicalove9850]

I knew Bob and played games with him at a park on first street in Trench Town when we were about 14/15 years old. I met Roger in the seventies twice on a radio station in New York. As white American I was astounded by his knowledge and collection's of reggaemusic

[@jamaicalove9850]

Segree Westney

[@TheAnnaFisher]

Love you, Ras Rojah and company! 🙏❤💛🖤💚👑🎶🇯🇲🇺🇲🇻🇮🌎

[@SufferersKeepOnJammin]

For context, when did you last hear (or pay to listen to) calypso music? Reggae exists today because of Ras Rojah's love for this artform and its other pioneers. Rojah's contribution is greater than Marley's. Rojah has kept royal reggae respectable. Thanks again Roj. You're like an uncle who's stories I never tire of.

[@Luiz.Campos]

Greater? LOL.

[@SufferersKeepOnJammin]

@@Luiz.Campos Yes,, Bob's fame was short and pre internet. Without Steffens, who played reggae on his radio show while the Wailers was playing small clubs. Chances to see the Wailers were few and far between. Because of Steffens, more people heard reggae music and tried to buy tickets. And bigger and bigger venues until stadiums were needed. And of course, many many sales. After Bob died, Steffens continued promoting reggae, especially in US universities. Posters and albums sell there because of him.

[@javierchavez1754]

What a wonderful soul. Long life to Ras Rojah

[@johnnyman9513]

what a life lived and living, ras rojah is a blessed soul! Been on this trip a long time and glad to be travelling thru the decades with certain people along for the timewarp journey

[@YR360echannel]

Roger is awesome I met him a few times 17 plus years ago at a Houston international fest ❤❤❤

[@6clope7]

love

[@MojoRising-oi9ef]

Awesome! Very precise and interesting 👏👍

[@TeezyK]

Buffalo soulja is a big hit

[@TeezyK]

Bob worked himself to death. He barely slept too. No wonder he got sick. With every action there's a reaction. His body gave out on him.

[@SufferersKeepOnJammin]

Rita's wound was to her scalp not skull.

[@SufferersKeepOnJammin]

I notice that Rojah never says 'US backed' JLP he says 'CIA backed'. I'm not sure if there's a difference.

[@TeezyK]

Bob marley would've still died even if removed that toe. It was written for him to go like that

[@SufferersKeepOnJammin]

The grand griot of reggae. Ras Rojah has the worst case of reggaemyalitis ever recorded.

[@nasimaali9646]

Can’t stand him. Thinks he knew Marley well cause he interviewed him lol. These so called white reggae historians always give me groupie vibes. Also, the downplaying of Rita whose known Bob longer than most people who claim to know him makes me cringe. The Marley’s should’ve never allowed him to be the tour guide especially since he’s been critical of them.