AboutGrant Miner Expertise I can answer a broad range of questions on reggae music, its history, and the religious and social factors that have influenced its development in Jamaica and elsewhere. I also have a similarly broad knowledge base for old school Punk Rock (circa 1976-1982).
Experience A performing musician for 20 years, I have traveled extensively in Jamaica and England as well as the USA, always with an eye and an ear for music.
Publications In the early 80s I conducted interviews and wrote for numerous underground music magazines: Paranoia, Flipside, etc. More recently I have written about sports for Bartcop.com
Awards and Honors American Academy of Poetry Award (1984)
Expert: Grant Miner Date: 4/4/2007 Subject: Bob Marley
Question On Marley's Rastaman Vibration album I see songwriting credits for(Positive Vibrations and Roots, Rock, Reggae) given to someone named V. Ford. Who is this Person?
Answer Noel,
Vincent "Tartar" Ford was a friend of Bob's from his days as a youth in the slums of Trenchtown. His credits on Rastaman Vibration probably have less to do with any songwriting contributions and more to do with the fact that Bob was trying to avoid paying royalties to Cayman Music, who early in his career contracted him as a songwriter. That is probably also why Rita Marley and the Barrett brothers show up with songwriting credits. Not to say they couldn't write music, just that the compositions in question are probably Bob's.
