Toronto Performer Brings Bob Marley Tribute to Calgary on Reggae Legend's Birthday
Calgary audiences will have a unique opportunity to celebrate the legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley this week as Toronto-based performer Duane Forrest brings his acclaimed one-man show to the National Music Centre. The performance of Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World is scheduled for February 6, which would have been Marley's 81st birthday.
From Paris Pub to Global Stage
The journey to creating this tribute show began in an unexpected location: an Irish pub in Paris. While performing weekly gigs there and playing semi-professional basketball, Forrest had a revelatory encounter with a German tourist who requested Marley's Buffalo Soldier.
"He was drunk, and was like 'Hey, can you play Buffalo Soldier, man?' and I'm like 'Yeah, yeah, cool,'" Forrest recalls in an interview. "I realized he didn't know what the song is about. He wasn't getting it. I think that's a great thing about reggae music. You don't even need to know English; you just feel so good, and everyone loves it. But I think it was that night that I realized there was a message being missed. That was the spark."
This experience inspired Forrest to create a show that would illuminate the stories and messages behind Marley's music, particularly songs like Buffalo Soldier, which pays tribute to the 19th-century African-American cavalry regiments of the U.S. Army.
Evolution of a Tribute
Forrest initially developed a 30-minute version of the show, debuting it at the Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023. Encouraged by positive reception, he expanded it to a full 60-minute production that has since toured internationally.
The show's journey has taken it to diverse locations including:
- Winnipeg, Canada
- Australia
- Taiwan
- Off-Broadway in New York City
"I've been around the world with the show, which is just crazy to say," Forrest notes. "I didn't think the show would work in Taiwan, but it was amazing. It was one of my best performances. We did it with a translator. We did it with subtitles, but I wanted a person to embody the words."
Personal Connection to Marley's Legacy
For Forrest, a first-generation Canadian with Jamaican parents who grew up in Toronto, Marley's music represents more than just entertainment—it's a connection to cultural heritage and identity.
"Bob was transformative for me, just as the icon and the man he is," he explains. "It was weird growing up. I grew up in Toronto, and there weren't many Black kids at the school. We had 2,000 students, and I always felt separated from Jamaica and also the Black diaspora and the story. Bob Marley and that music kind of opened the door for me. To look in and see that there was more to our story."
Despite Toronto's Little Jamaica neighborhood on Eglinton Avenue West serving as a hub for Caribbean culture, Forrest often felt disconnected from his Jamaican background, having never visited the island as either a child or adult.
More Than Just a Marley Tribute
While Marley serves as the central focus of the show, Forrest incorporates multiple elements to create a rich theatrical experience:
- Autobiographical storytelling about his own journey
- Original music compositions
- Covers of other reggae acts including Toots and the Maytals and the Upsetters
The Calgary performance at Studio Bell within the National Music Centre represents both a homecoming of sorts for a Canadian performer and a celebration of Marley's enduring global influence.
"I think the coolest part of it is that ... I've been around the world and there are still so many people connected to reggae music and Jamaican culture and that's because of Bob," Forrest reflects on his international touring experience.
The show's arrival in Calgary on February 6 offers audiences a chance to experience both the musical legacy of one of the 20th century's most influential artists and the personal journey of a Canadian performer reconnecting with his cultural roots through music.
