Interview with Icon (Jermaine Clark)
WPKN 89.5 FM — Bridgeport, Connecticut
December 5, 2020 | 8:00 p.m. Eastern

Seven years after the publication of The Bible and Bob Marley: Half the Story Has Never Been Told, author and theologian Dean MacNeil reunites with radio host Icon to discuss the book’s academic reception and his continuing research into Marley’s spirituality.

The conversation explores MacNeil’s methodology for identifying and analyzing biblical quotations and allusions in Marley’s lyrics, the influence of Rastafari on his musical development, and the historical connections between gospel music and reggae. Particular attention is given to Marley’s formative years (1966–1970), his spiritual and musical evolution, and the gospel foundations of the posthumously released song I Know.

“He’s not just quoting, but he’s actually interpreting.”

MacNeil reflects on the book’s reception within academic institutions, including the University of the West Indies, and the publication of its Caribbean edition. He also discusses his contribution to the Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Receptionand the development of his chapter Bob Marley, Emerging Rasta, 1966–1970, subsequently published in IDEAZ, Volume 15, through Arawak Publishers in association with the University of the West Indies.

The interview also considers Marley’s enduring cultural and spiritual legacy, including his role in popularizing Rastafari internationally and the continuing relevance of his biblically inspired message of resistance and redemption.