A Newsweek magazine special issue billed as the official 70th Anniversary Bob Marley Tribute - and entirely dedicated to the Marleys, reggae, rocksteady, ska and Jamaica - has just hit news stands across the United States.

The 100-page article chronicles the life and the legacy of Bob Marley, Jamaica's humble and gifted son of Trench Town whose music and cultural ideology inspired the lives of millions of multi-racial music fans across the globe.

The editorial spread is accompanied by over 100 rarely seen colour and black and white photographs of Bob Marley, his children, the Wailers, and other reggae pioneers like Coxone Dodd. One of the captivating black and white images dates back to 1966 at the wedding of Bob and Rita before Bob started growing dreadlocks. Another remarkable photograph revisits the Is This Love video shoot in 1978 in London that gave a seven-year-old Naomi Campbell an early taste of the spotlight.

Surprisingly, no images of former Miss World, Cindy Brakespeare, appear in the magazine. Cindy is the mother of Bob's chart-topping son Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley.

Much of the narrative is told by the children of Bob Marley. Son Ziggy Marley expounds on the enduring works of his father. Another son, Stephen Marley, recalls the night his parents were shot, and daughter Cedella zooms in on her dad's world-changing relevance.

"My siblings and I are honored and blessed with the Marley, name and heritage of music and are proud our children will continue his legendary message through their own music, inspiring generations to come," Cedella Marley affirmed in the Newsweek special edition.

The issue costs US$10.99 and it will remain on news stands until January 16.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20160105/jamaica-lavished-coverage-newsweeks-marley-70th-anniversary-issue