Larry Marshall

• Genre: Roots Reggae

About

A singer with a smoothly beautiful baritone voice and a large importance in the history of Reggae, Larry Marshall is nonetheless not as well-known as he should be. While working for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at the famous Studio One in Jamaica, Marshall delivered classic early Reggae tracks such as "Nanny Goat" and "Run Babylon," marking the change from Rock Steady to the more laid-back and culturally oriented Roots style that dominated the 1970s -- indeed, his songs place him as one of the key figures in the introduction of Reggae. As an assistant for Dodd, he helped arrange and produce early albums by Dennis Brown and Horace Andy; furthermore, following an encounter on the beach, he ushered a young Burning Spear into the studio to record two of the first (and best) Roots Reggae albums with serious Rastafarian themes: Burning Spear and Rocking Time. Marshall has continued to deliver his silky vocals, later working with King Tubby and others for a more Dub-like style. It's a shame more people haven't discovered this legend.

- Jessy Terry