Burning Spear

Thirty-five years ago Winston Rodney, adopting the name Burning Spear from the late president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, recorded his seminal debut single "Door Peep," delivering the song's spiritual yet defiant lyrics with hypnotic repetition. Since then Spear has remained a cultural standard-bearer, championing African history, Rastafari culture, and the teachings of Jamaican pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. Currently celebrating his 59th Earthday tour, the Spear now burns without the fire and brimstone polemics associated with today's reggae upstarts but instead glows with the embers of maturity and a sagacity gleaned through decades of experience. -- Patricia Meschino