Bob Marley film resonates for Pittsburgh men who were part of his music history

The many fans of the hit biographical film, “Bob Marley: One Love,” still playing in theaters, include two Pittsburghers with a decidedly special interest in it.

Rich Engler of Sewickley Heights, and Ed Traversari of McCandless Township, became part of music history in hosting Marley and the Wailers at the Stanley Theater (now the Benedum Center) in Pittsburgh on Sept. 23, 1980.

It would be Marley’s final concert.

Engler, who booked and promoted the show, was contacted by the producers of “Bob Marley: One Love” for insights.

“The people from Paramount did speak with me briefly but did not use anything that I gave them in the film about the last show and my history with Bob,” he said. “We totally understand. It had to end in an upbeat situation instead of a downer with Bob doing the U.S. tour and Pittsburgh being last and the fact he never played again.”

Otherwise, Engler said he and his wife, Cindy, enjoyed everything about the PG-13 film, which hit theaters nationwide on Feb. 14.

“We thought it was very well done,” Engler said.

The film also impressed Traversari who was Engler's production manager for Marley's final concert.

“It really put some of the pieces of the puzzle together for me after hearing and reading so many stories about Bob and his life,” Traversari, a Point Park University professor in the Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Music Business Program, said.

“I thought the acting was done very well, especially the actors that played both Bob and (Marley's widow) Rita," he said. "I also thought that some parts were very sad and emotional.”

Marley died at the age of 36 on May 11, 1981.

Still vivid are Traversari’s memories of the final Stanley concert.

“The crowd wouldn't let him leave the stage and it didn't seem like Bob wanted to leave the stage," Traversari said. "He kept being called out for an encore, which I believe ended up being three encores. Right after his performance, I received permission from his road manager for Rich and I to present him with a plaque in his dressing room celebrating his sellout.

“I don't remember much of what we all talked about but could only imagine us telling him how great we thought his show was. From my recollection, you would never have known from his performance that he was ill in any way.  As far as I can remember he seemed to be in good spirits at the show with a certain amount of energy as witnessed by his three encores.“

Marley’s son, musician Ziggy Marley, played a crucial role in ensuring the authenticity of the film, which follows his legendary dad's journey from humble beginnings to global fame, highlighting the challenges and dangers he faced along the way.

“I definitely think he would still be a major force had he lived,” Traversari said. “His music is timeless and lives forever. I think you will find in research that his estate or catalogs are worth millions thanks to his family and their business practices. His music touches everyone from young kids to people in their 70s. When I talk to my students about our last show and the 2010 Marley celebration concert at the Benedum they all know, of course, who he is and they listen to his music.”

Engler, who, like Traversari, is also a musician, admits that the first time he heard a reference to reggae music he had no idea what it was.

“I quickly realized it was beautiful, powerful, spiritual music from the Caribbean. I especially grew to love Bob Marley, a charismatic figure who seemed to stand for all the right things: peace, love, justice and human rights," Engler said.

The veteran promoter first brought Marley and the Wailers to Pittsburgh in 1978. It was a hard sell, and the show only did moderate business, he theorized, because Pittsburgh was not yet attuned to the genre.

“I think after Bob left town, reggae music exploded. When we booked him at the Stanley Theater two years later, the show sold out immediately, without any help from the media," Engler said. "Marley’s reputation and legend took on almost mythical status. People wanted to see him."

Reggae explosion

Engler says he had no idea the Sept. 23, 1980, concert would be a historic event for the saddest of reasons.

“One of the things I remember about the audience that night was that it was multicultural. There were people of all ages and races. Marley was one of the few artists who could attract such a diverse crowd,” he said.

The day before, there were concerns if Marley would be able to make it to Pittsburgh. He had collapsed after going for a run and as Engler writes in his book, “Behind the Stage Door: A Promoter’s Life Behind the Scenes,” Rita Marley was distraught and didn’t want her husband to travel or perform.

“I was concerned about Bob’s health, but I was cognizant that a cancellation would cause problems,” Engler said.

There would be no way to get the word out to ticket holders fast enough, he said.

Later in the afternoon on Sept. 22, Marley's agent called and said the reggae star and his band would come to Pittsburgh, but there was no guarantee that he could perform.

After the tour bus arrived the next day, Engler stopped to greet Bob.

“He looked tired and drawn, a bit emaciated in the face. It seemed miraculous that he could even stand up,” Engler remembered.

Engler asked Marley how he felt and Marley replied, “Oh mon, not good. I’m gonna rest and not do a sound check with the band. I’ll be OK.”

“So, you’re going to play?” Engler asked. “Ya, mon.” Marley said, “My band needs the money. No matter what, I’m playing.”

Engler said he was relieved the show was going to happen, but his heart went out to Marley.

“Only later did I find out that Bob had been diagnosed with some kind of cancer and the prognosis was not good and the reason Rita had wanted to cancel the show,” he said.

Brave performance

Fans had no idea how sick Marley was when he took the stage.

“They didn’t realize this was a man who could barely stand, who had basically been prone on a couch since he arrived at the theater,” said Engler, who still gets emotional when he talks about it.

It was the concert he will never forget; emotional, inspirational and compelling.

“Words fail me even now about how transcendent that night was; how Bob gave of himself to the fans and to his band,” Engler said. “In turn, the band saw what Bob was going through and came up with the performance of a lifetime. The grooves were just a little bit deeper, the music just a bit more soulful. You felt the music as much as you heard it.”

In retrospect, Engler thinks Marley may have recognized this might be his final concert.

“It sure felt like he knew his life was changing, that this might be his last time on stage,” Engler said.

After the concert, Bob looked haggard and spent.

“I could tell the performance took a lot out of him, but he was unfailingly polite and cordial,” Engler said.

Engler and Traversari presented him with a plaque, and posed for a photo, for having one of the fastest sellouts in the history of Pittsburgh concert promotion kings DiCesare-Engler Productions.

Engler said he has carried a laminated photo of that presentation in his wallet for decades.

“When I travel and people ask me what I do for a living, I will sometimes pull it out and show people that I had the honor of promoting Bob Marley’s last concert. No matter where I am in the world, but especially in the Caribbean, the photo is a talisman, a special image that never fails to engender reverence and appreciation,” he said.

After that final Marley show, Engler spoke to diehard fans who attended many of his concerts in other cities.

“Each one of them said there was no other show quite like this one," he said. "The emotional electricity generated from the stage was phenomenal.”

Looking ahead

"Bob Marley: One Love" continues to screen at regional theaters like Cinemark-Robinson and AMC Waterfront-22 in West Homestead.

Meanwhile, after 20 years, Engler is renewing his concert partnership at the Tussey Mountain amphitheater in State College, opening the season June 23 with The Wailers carrying on and honoring the legacy and spirit of the original group. Uprooted, featuring Rusted Root alumnus and Pittsburgh native Michael Glabicki, will open the show.

Engler also is working on returning The Wailers to Pittsburgh this year.

“To be working with the Wailers again is very special; the fact that it’s their 40th anniversary and their connection with Bob Marley,” he said. “They do all the Bob Marley songs so well and I look forward to seeing them personally as a fan, not only as a producer and a promoter.”Rex Rutkoski of Freeport is a regional, national and international freelancer who has covered music since the 1960s. He can be reached at [email protected]. 

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Bob Marley film resonates for Pittsburgh men who staged his last show