Burning Spear is the stage name of Winston Rodney, a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician born in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, in 1945. He is known for music shaped by Rastafari beliefs and for lyrics centred on social change, black unity, self-reliance and resistance to oppression.

Background

Rodney is from the same area of Jamaica as Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey, both of whom influence his work. Marley helps him get started in the music industry, and Garvey’s ideas become central to his politics and songwriting. Rodney first performs under the name Burning Spear, taken from Jomo Kenyatta, and the name later becomes associated with Rodney himself as a solo artist.

Career and recordings

Burning Spear begins as a group and later expands from a duo into a trio before becoming Rodney’s solo project. He records at Studio One after Marley encourages him to go there, and one early release is “Door Peep.” Over the course of his career he issues more than 25 albums. Among them are albums titled Marcus Garvey and Marcus’ Children, which reflect his commitment to Garvey’s philosophy.

His music combines roots reggae with a strong spiritual and political message, but it also moves toward more melodic writing over time, using hooks and short phrases alongside its social themes. Songs such as “One Marcus” and “Little Garvey” continue his references to Garvey, while other material deals with love, friendship, community and self-examination.

Record labels and awards

In 2002, Burning Spear and his wife, Sonia Rodney, found Burning Spear Records, with Sonia Rodney producing several of his albums. His own label releases Freeman, which receives a Grammy nomination, followed by Our Music. In total, nine of his albums receive Grammy nominations, and Calling Rastafari wins the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. He is also associated with the Spear and Burning Spear Music labels.

Ideas and influence

Burning Spear presents music as a form of life, inspiration and education. His songs promote honesty, peace, love, African history and the idea of people standing up for their beliefs. He remains identified with the roots of reggae and with the legacy of its early pioneers, while continuing to perform and record as Burning Spear.