An early song is “Trench Town Rock” about a part of Kingston, the lyric  “One good thing about music / When it hits you (You feel no pain)”.  We see a home made guitar with strings made out of electrical wiring.   We learn about Bob Marley’s role models, Marcus Garvey and Hailie Selassie, and Rastafarianism.  Marley forms the group The Wailers and in 1965 they release their first album.  In 1966 Bob Marley (Arinzé Kene) marries a soul singer Rita Anderson (Gabrielle Brooks).  Lee Hall has written the book to this musical which follows the life story of Jamaica’s most famous and loved singer.  They come to London on a promotional tour in 1972 and destitute, find Chris Blackwell (Henry Faber) the founder of Island Records and he gives them money to make a new album.  Although Marley says “I’m not interested in politics, I’m interested in people” the CIA have a file on him saying, “He is a Black Messiah and must be neutralised”. 

“Down Low” is sung three ways with Marley, his wife Rita and his girl friend Miss Jamaica, later Miss World, Cindy Breakspeare (Shanay Holmes).  The first act closes with “Jamming” a total celebration with additional brass instruments adding to the beat.