I & I The Natural Mystics: Marley, Tosh & Wailer | Colin Grant

How did three revolutionary artists forge a global reggae movement despite bitter division? Colin Grant investigates the legendary original Wailers in I & I The Natural Mystics.

The Rise and Fall of Reggae's Triumvirate

Over one dramatic decade, a trio of Trench Town R&B crooners—Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Bob Marley—swapped their 1960s Brylcreem hairdos and two-tone suits for 1970s battle fatigues and dreadlocks to become the Wailers. They emerged from the impoverished neighborhoods of Kingston to become one of the most influential groups in the history of popular music.

In I & I The Natural Mystics, Colin Grant examines the intertwined lives and turbulent history of this legendary reggae band. Charting their complex relationship, their fluctuating fortunes, and their unparalleled musical peak, Grant exposes the politics and ideologies that provoked their eventual split. He demonstrates why they were not just extraordinary musicians, but also natural mystics deeply rooted in spiritual devotion.

Following a trail from Jamaica through Europe, America, Africa, and back to the vibrant and volatile world of Trench Town, Grant travels in search of the last surviving Wailer to tell the definitive story of a band that changed the world.

Key Thematic Elements

• Musical Evolution: Traces the group's dramatic transformation from clean-cut R&B singers to dreadlocked reggae revolutionaries.
• Ideological Conflict: Examines the profound political beliefs, creative tensions, and spiritual convictions that fueled both their rise and their fracture.
• Cultural History: Offers a vivid, theatrical portrait of life in 1960s and 1970s Trench Town, framing the genesis of a global musical movement.

“In Grant's hands life in Trench Town in the 1960's is energetic and theatrical, rich in comedy and tragic irony...This brilliant book is not just about Jamaica, but about ourselves.”—The Guardian

About the Author

Colin Grant is an esteemed historian, author, and broadcaster. Known for his vibrant and rigorously researched non-fiction, his work often explores Caribbean history, culture, and influential figures, shedding new light on complex historical narratives.

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Read This If You Enjoy...

• Deep-dive biographies into the history of legendary musical groups and movements.
• Explorations of Jamaican culture, history, and the origins of reggae music.
• Stories of complex creative partnerships and the intersection of music, politics, and spirituality.

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