Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

BOB Marley

THE WORLD-FAMOUS archives of reggae historian Roger Steffens is once again up for sale, after negotiations between him and Jamaican interests fell through.

Steffens told The Gleaner on Monday that there is 'major interest' in the archives which occupies six rooms of his Los Angeles, California house. He said the prospective Jamaican buyer did not meet certain requirements.

"My bottom lines remain the same as always which proved to be a sticking point in the failed arrangement with Jamaica," he said. "The collection should remain intact and should be shared as much as legally possible with the public, while respecting the rights of the artistes involved."

Three years ago, The Gleaner published a story that said Jamaican banker Michael Lee Chin had purchased the Steffens archives. Steffens did not identify the Jamaican party with whom he had held talks, but said they failed to reach an agreement.

Heart breaker

"It breaks my heart that the collection is not going to Jamaica, after seven years of unsuccessful efforts to come to a satisfactory agreement," he said.

Efforts by The Gleaner to contact Lee Chin yesterday were unsuccessful.

The 66-year-old Steffens says he still conducts tours of the archives which contains the largest Bob Marley memorabilia in the world. He said a poster - autographed by band members - promoting a 1978 Wailers concert in Berkeley, California is the most cherished of his pieces.

Steffens, a Vietnam veteran, is recognised as the foremost authority on the Wailers and Jamaican popular music. He has written extensively on the legendary band with Bob Marley. Spirit Dancer and The Reggae Scrapbook are two of his more accomplished publications.

The Reggae Scrapbook, released last year, is a joint production between Steffens and photographer Peter Simon.

The Brooklyn, New York-born Steffens says he discovered reggae in the early 1970s when the music was developing an underground following in the United States. He met Marley and the Wailers in 1978 while they were touring California, and the following year began hosting The Reggae Beatradio show which ran for eight years.

Steffens is founding editor of The Beat magazine which covers the reggae and world beat scene.

Roger Steffens, owner of the largest Bob Marley memorabilia in the world, at the opening of Queen Mary exhibit of his 'World of Reggae' archives in February 2001 - Photo courtesy of Roger Steffens' Reggae Archives