The Marley Magic By Annan Boodram February 2002: In the thirty six years that he lived, the weed-smoking, dreadlocked Trench Town ghetto youth elevated Reggae music and in that same breath brought a part of Jamaica's heritage to the world at large. His impact on the lives of many is evident as one teenaged fan's from Europe last wish was that his body be cremated and his ashes be sprinkled at the feet of Bob's statue. That Marley's influence spanned far and wide is undisputed. That he is deserving of the monumental recognition he has received as one of the most significant cultural artists of the 20th century is, too - without question, says Roger Steffens. "He's as good a poet as Bob Dylan," says the Los Angeles-based reggae historian. "He's more revolutionary than John Lennon. He's the only Third World star in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "He transcended music superstardom to become a religious and moral and political figure without compare. He's one of the most recognizable faces on the planet." Steffens also is an author, radio and TV host, photographer and archivist whose international lectures on the life of Bob Marley, as well as his extensive reggae archives, have made him one of the most acclaimed and sought-after experts in reggae. A voice-over actor for films, books on tape and corporate and cultural organizations, he also is the founding editor of The Beat magazine - a bimonthly publication of reggae, African, Caribbean and world music - and editor of its annual "Bob Marley Collectors Edition." The co-author of "Bob Marley: Spirit Dancer" said "He (Marley) just spoke about the truth. His music is about something. It's set to the beat of the healthy human heart at rest. It's visceral as well as intellectual." That beat has proved relaxing for ninth-graders who take Al Carlin's math classes at Lenape Middle School in Doylestown, California. When Carlin stopped playing the music during tests and quizzes a few times, his students actually complained that their scores suffered. Susan Ginsberg, a geometry and pre-calculus teacher at Central Bucks West High School, also plays Bob Marley during her classes also in California. "The music is just upbeat and real positive," she says. "It keeps the kids motivated and awake, and they're more relaxed, too." Steffens claims it is not unusual to find Bob Marley's songs in a variety of forums, given his strong belief that we are all of the same spirit. "If he hadn't died," says Steffens, "Bob Marley would have been the biggest star in the history of popular music. The last summer of his life, he played to crowds of hundreds of thousands in stadiums across Europe, outdrawing the Pope in Milan." More than 20 years after his death, his albums continue to be top sellers. He has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Movies have been made about him and numerous books written. And TV continue to be enamored with the Marley magic, the latest being VH1 which just completed filming in Jamaica for two separate projects on the Reggae icon.