- published: 28 Feb 2013
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Don Letts (born (1956-01-10)10 January 1956) is a British film director and musician. He is credited as the man who through his DJing at clubs like The Roxy brought together punk and reggae music.
Letts was born in London, England and educated at Tenison's School in Kennington. In 1975, Letts ran the trendy London clothing store Acme Attractions selling, "electric-blue zoot suits and jukeboxes, and pumping dub reggae all day long." Letts was deeply inspired by the music coming from his parents' homeland Jamaica, in particular Bob Marley. After seeing one of Marley's gigs at the Odeon in Hammersmith (June, 1976) he was able to sneak into the hotel and spent the night talking to and befriending Marley. By the mid 1970s Acme had quite a scene attracting all the like of The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Chrissie Hynde, Patti Smith, Deborah Harry and Bob Marley.
Seeing the crowd at Acme, the then promoter Andy Czezowski started up the Roxy, a London nightclub during the original outbreak of punk in England, so that people could go from the store and have some place to party. As most bands of that era had yet to be recorded, there were limited punk rock records to be played. Instead, Letts included many dub and reggae records in his sets, and is credited with introducing those sounds to the London punk scene, which was to influence The Clash and other bands. As a tribute, he is pictured on the cover of the album Super Black Market Clash. He was able to use the fame and money from DJing and the Acme story to make his first film, The Punk Rock Movie (1978).
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers (1963–1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited with helping spread both Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.
Marley's music was heavily influenced by the social issues of his homeland, and he is considered to have given voice to the specific political and cultural nexus of Jamaica. His best-known hits include "I Shot the Sheriff", "No Woman, No Cry", "Could You Be Loved", "Stir It Up", "Get Up Stand Up", "Jamming", "Redemption Song", "One Love" and, "Three Little Birds", as well as the posthumous releases "Buffalo Soldier" and "Iron Lion Zion". The compilation album Legend (1984), released three years after his death, is reggae's best-selling album, going ten times Platinum which is also known as one Diamond in the U.S., and selling 25 million copies worldwide.
Superstonic Sound: Don Letts Documentary
Punk, Reggae, Roxy and Don Letts from Punk Atitude
SHOWstudio: Stussy - Talking Punk with Don Letts and John Ingham
DON LETTS in METAMORPHOSE (JAPAN) 2010 in the Morning!!!!!!!!!!!
Don Letts : Crucial Vinyl (The Queen Is Dead)
Don Letts - Interview about PUNK: Attitude
Don Letts | Culture Clash
Don Letts @ Rain Dogs Savona
Punk Attitude [subtitulos en español]
Superstonic Sound : A Rebel Dread
4-16-11: Don Letts DJ Set. Oasis Dome. Coachella (Day 2)
Don Letts on selling pot to Bob Marley
Punk days with Don Letts
DON LETTS @ THE LION