Marley and the Mob
BOB Marley and the Mafia?! It seems an unlikely combination but, according to a new book by Roger Steffens, the reggae king met with a high-ranking member of the Gambino family in September 1980 requesting protection.
The book, So Much Things To Say: the Oral History of Bob Marley, was released yesterday. It contains interviews the respected Marley archivist did with persons who knew Marley intimately, including Danny Sims, his former manager and publisher.
Steffens relates how Sims, in a April 2012 interview, spoke in detail of Marley’s meeting with Mob boss Joe Armone, head of the feared Gambino family.
Sims, who had known Marley since the 1960s, said the singer wanted protection ahead of his gig opening for The Commodores at Madison Square Garden.
“I took him to see a guy named Joe Armone, the head of the Gambino (Mafia) organisation. Joe Armone was my partner for 40 years before he died. And at the same restaurant that Castellano got killed, I took Bob and Allan to that restaurant to meet with Joey Armone. And Allan told Joey that they wanted protection for the Madison Square Garden.”
Castellano is Paul Castellano, who led the Gambino family for 10 years until he was gunned down in front of Sparks Steak House in Manhattan in December 1985. The unsanctioned hit was ordered by John Gotti, another Gambino heavyweight.
Armone was one of Castellano’s top lieutenants. He died in prison in 1992.
Allan is Marley’s confidant and former Manager Alan “Skill” Cole.
Sims said Marley had been receiving death threats but did not know their source.
“And I don’t think he knew where the threat was coming from, because although you had the Jamaican posse, there was another outfit of bad guys. Then you had another crew of Jamaican Government bad guys. So I think he was a little leery after being shot and he wanted security, and he got it.”
Sims disclosed that there was a Gambino presence at the show.
Marley was shot while rehearsing for the Smile Jamaica concert in Kingston four years before. That incident is also covered in Steffens’ book.
Marley died from cancer at age 36 in May 1981. Sims died from cancer in October 2012.
So Much Things To Say also contains interviews with Cole, former Wailers Cherry Green, Beverley Kelso, Junior Braithwaite, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and with Joe Higgs, Lee Jaffe and Neville Willoughby.
