Marley revisited - Publisher to re-issue best seller in February

MARLEY and Me, the sensational tell-all book by Bob Marley's former manager Don Taylor, will be re-released in February by LMH Publishing.

Mike Henry, head of LMH Publishing, told the Jamaica Observer that it should be available in time for the reggae legend's birthday on February 6.

He said the second edition will have additional chapters, looking at developments regarding the Marley Estate in the last decade.

While Taylor gave salacious details of Marley's personal life, he also made controversial claims against the singer's widow Rita Marley.

Taylor, who died in December 1999, said Rita Marley was against her husband's 'outside' children benefiting from his legacy which was reportedly valued US$30 million at the time of his death in May 1981.

Marley, citing his Rastafarian faith, never left a will.

"When the book came out, we were threatened with a lot of lawsuits that never materialised," said Henry. "Just read the number of Marley books that followed and you will see Don has been exonerated," said Henry.

Marley and Me was distributed by Henry's previous company, Kingston Publishers.

The St Elizabeth-born Taylor managed Marley for four years, starting in 1974. He was sacked by the singer during his African tour in 1979.

Taylor was among four persons shot at Marley's St Andrew home in December 1976. Marley and his wife were also shot and injured in the incident.

Henry says Marley and Me is one of his best sellers. It has been released in French, Japanese and Spanish.

(from Jamaica Observer)