Music I Paint By

The music of Bob Marley and The Wailers was introduced to me in 1972 by a friend, of Jamaican ancestry. After hearing the album, "Burnin," which my friend had purchased during his vacation on the islands, I was immediately hooked on reggae music. The throbbing back- beat grabbed me, creating strong feelings for the passionate rhythm, the exotic instruments and the driving social messages. Also, the words to some of the songs were haunting, particularly "Redemption Song," which I memorized and began re-creating in calligraphic art form. It is yet to be completed.

My love of reggae music reflects my openess to all genres of music, just as the artist in me feels a kinship to all people. While I love and continue to learn about all aspects of my own culture, I also embrace any music that stirs feelings in me. This is particularly true when I'm painting.

Classical, Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Classic Rock, Blues, Country and even some Hip-Hop music have accompanied the strokes of my brush. But the music of Bob Marley has been my most consistent painting companion over the years......