Stamford, Ct. USA ––

The Roger Steffens’ Archive /International Reggae Museum “Kickstarter Project” was launched on ” Kickstarter.com”, on January 22, 2013 for acquisition of The Roger Steffens’ Reggae Archive, the largest single collection of Reggae artifacts in the world and the establishment of the International Reggae Museum in Jamaica.

Dual National, Chazz P.Morris, the visionary behind this exciting initiative, announced the launch of the “Kickstarter Project” to acquire the largest single collection of Reggae artifacts in the world from the internationally renowned Roger Steffens. With this acquisition plans are to erect The International Reggae Museum in Nine Mile District, St. Ann, Jamaica. The total value of the the Archive is $3,000,000 US dollars (three million), based on the appraisal given by Robert Santelli, Chairman of the Grammy Museum. The funding/budget will be used to not only acquire the collection but will contribute to the establishment/setting up of the ‘International Reggae Museum’ in Jamaica which will house the Steffen’s collection and other material.

“We must reach our target to make this project a reality because if we don’t, all pledges will be returned and we won’t get to take this extraordinary collection home to Jamaica,” says Chazz, adding: “this acquisition has been a long time coming and now the opportunity is here to preserve the history of Reggae Music by acquiring this one of a kind collection.”

The Roger Steffens’ Reggae Archive highlights in great detail the career of Bob Marley and the Wailers, featuring Steffens’ definitive collection of their recordings and a massive display of autographed singles from all stages of their careers. In addition, hundreds of Jamaican artists will be showcased along with detailed information about their work. In this manner, the story of those who took Reggae from its small island roots and transformed it into a global culture is traced. Priceless artifacts tell the half that’s never been told; a living history celebrating Jamaica’s musical creativity.

Included in the collections are hundreds of autographed album covers and rare singles, one of a kind Marley treasures, posters from around the world, original photographs, fliers, T-shirts, post cards, magazines, books, banners, buttons, and scores of other memorabilia from Reggae’s most famous figures including a section devoted to its Spiritual head Emperor Haile Selassie.

The contents display a visual and sonic experience that begins with Mento, and the birth of Ska in the early sixties and moves through the era of Rock Steady, Reggae, Dub, DJ(Rap), Lovers Rock, Two-Tone, and Ska Revival, Dub Poetry, and up through the present ascendancy of Dancehall and Raggamuffin.

Other items of interest include over six thousand separate and framed Archive items presently being cared for and exhibited in California filling 12 rooms of a two story building there. Also included is the late Geoffrey Cooper’s Collection, who was chief audio engineer for NBC, with some of the most outstanding quality master recordings and extremely rare first pressings, including every year of Sunsplash from 1982 through 1988; seven years of unreleased, priceless tapes of these historic concerts. Cooper also bequeathed 500 albums and 600 singles, a significant addition to the Steffens’ Archives.

About The Reggae Museum
The Reggae Museum’s location boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in Jamaica in the ‘garden parish’ of St Ann, in the same district where legendary Reggae King Bob Marley was born and later laid to rest. A century old Great House is located on the site which is slated to be a monument and a special cultural attraction and heritage site. The museum site when completed will feature a Theatre, Eatery, Herb Garden, Low power FM Radio Station and Museum Store, adding to the ambiance of a truly cultural Jamaican experience.

The Theatre Every seat in the Museum’s theatre will offer guests an opportunity to see, hear and experience a world of Jamaican culture from performances by children in the various communities to top of the chart Jamaican artists in an intimate, comfortable environment with superb acoustics. It will be host to the finest examples of Jamaica’s cultural, traditional, instrumental and vocal artists. In addition to featuring well known live performers and exciting new talents live onstage. The Museum will also encourage performers from throughout the island with emphasis on the youths to participate in old Jamaican traditional theatre, dance and songs.

The Eatery Jamaican fruits and snacks will be showcased. Most visitors do not get a chance to sample our luscious fruits in their supervised travels throughout the island. Unique features such as exotic samples from the local market and special dishes for which our island is famous will be provided.
The Herb Garden: Visitors will learn about such herbs as the famous Guinea Hen herb recently hailed for being helpful in treating cancer. This Herb Garden will be supervised by a Licensed Doctor of Alternative Medicine.

The Museum Store Merchandise will be offered that educates, inspires and entertains. It will offer sales of CDs , books, jewelry and musical instruments. It will have something for every guest.

Low Power FM Radio Station Contacts have been made with the Broadcast Commission regarding obtaining the necessary Licensing to operate a Low Power FM Radio station. This radio station will inform visitors of the daily festivities at the Museum.

Museum Guides Visitors will receive their own personal automatic Tour Guide at the door: (Rental fee for each unit to be returned before exiting the Museum) This wireless technology is called “GuidePort” (Museum Guide System) The content, integrity and uniqueness is in seeing and hearing these artifacts as will be done with special Sennheiser Guide Port compact receivers with headphones. These units will be available to guests at the front desk upon admission to the Reggae Museum. These audio guides are completely automatic with high audio quality and will provide the sound track for music and videos at all the different sites around the museum. This system has hidden identifiers that will be installed at each exhibit that cue the audio guides automatically to exactly the right “sound track”. With Guide Port’s wireless technology, every visitor has his/her own personal tour guide throughout the Museum at his/ her own leisure. Guideport compact receivers with headphones using wireless technology will be installed and linked to each exhibit as well as monitors to act as personal tour guides throughout.

Museum’s Construction Construction plans are for a Steel reinforced Earthship to house the collection. Schematic plans to be drawn up by Mike Reynolds of Earthship Biotecture. Earthship Biotecture is the most radically sustainable, economical building design in the world. It is a passive solar building structure made of natural and recycled materials ; thermal mass construction for temperature stabilization ; renewable energy & integrated water systems make the Earthship an off-grid building with little to no utility bills. Biotecture is the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their sustainability. It is a combination of biology and architecture.

Bringing it Home
Chazz P. Morris met Roger Steffens and viewed the collection in June 2012. Roger is committed in his desire to have the artifacts find its way home to Jamaica.

Special consideration with regards to Risks and Challenges The Challenge is the task of cataloging and creatively displaying such a vast and monumental amount of differentiating artifacts. We will overcome this challenge because of Roger Steffens’ himself who is big part of the Roger Steffens’ Reggae Archive. He is committed to being Curator Emeritus at the Museum facility at Nine Mile District St. Ann, Jamaica.
There is a story behind each artifact in the Archive and Roger can tell the story like none other. In addition to Roger there are Reggae Historians and Scholars prepared to support the project.

Infrastructure and operational goals must meet with the highest level of hi- tech selectivity. Audio, Electronic and Digital Artistry Masters will be sought from every corner of the globe to work in cooperation and collaboration with the Curator Emeritus to make this viewing a truly spectacular experience.

The Team
Chazz , Roger and Colin (Roger’s long time friend and business associate in Jamaica) will come together to take on the bittersweet, painstaking task of carefully unearthing what has been hidden away and protected for so long.

The Risks are the required Special Care, handling and shipping of the Archive. Specialized Curatorial Assistance from Graham Howe of Curatorial Assistance in Pasadena Ca., who is very familiar with The Roger Steffens’ Reggae Archive has indicated that the collection is truly wonderful. His organzation is called Curatorial Assistance, Inc. Founded in 1987, they manage art projects, travel exhibitions, and provide superior museum services to art museums. Their art services include exhibition design, and editorial services for catalogues and publications, photography and digital reproduction, fine art framing and print mounting, packing and crating of art objects, art storage, and art shipping worldwide.

Mr. Howe said there are thousands of artifacts in the Archive that need to be further catalogued which is an extensive but necessary job. He explained that moving the collection is a delicate undertaking that needs attention to detail with regards to specialized procedures in temperature control, wrapping, handling, packing and transport all of which is their specialty. This aspect will certainly be a challenge but one that will be an awe inspiring job. Great care must be taken. The collection must be treated with reverence and careful hands.

Destination “Earthship”, Nine Mile District, St. Ann, Jamaica
The next important aspect of the acquisition of this monumental collection is the structure that willl provide safe housing for the collection in Jamaica.

Having visited an Earthship structure in Jamaica with its unique design and features in 2009, Mike Reynolds the founder of Earthship was contacted in New Mexico, USA. Mike says his Earthship design will provide impenetrable security. Since he has prior experience of building an Earthship in Jamaica he is confident that with his previous Architectural connections, things will go swimmingly well without obstacles. He will provide Design, Construction Drawings, Staging, Materials, tools, equipment and manpower.

If tools and materials are not readily available in Jamaica, necessary items will be shipped in as an option.

Providing security will be a challenge and because of the risks involved with providing full proof secure housing, the best and most efficient Security Organization in the region will be sought to secure the collection from ship to shore and beyond.

Government of Jamaica (GOJ)
Regarding Jamaican Laws, Considerations Licensing and Operations within the Museum, interest has been expressed by the Government of Jamaica in giving its blessings to this endeavor, with a committment to support it becoming a reality.
Government entities listed below fall under Government jursdiction.
It is expected that these aspects will be well received.

Attraction Incentives
The Jamaica Tourist Board. (JTB) via Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Tourism Product Development Co. (TPDCO)
Declaration: National Cultural Site : Jamaica Heritage Society (JNHT)

Attraction Licensing
Non-for-Profit Foundation – Company Registration :
The Companies Office of Jamaica (ORC)
FM Radio Station:The Jamaican Broadcasting Commission
Inspections: Police Liaison /Security and Fire Certification inspection. Approval: National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA)

As a Dual National, a Citizen of the USA and Jamaica, I am able to conduct
the necessary business in the USA and in Jamaica as well as with collaborating entities in the International diaspora with global support.
Constant Communication will be maintained to keep all backers fully informed.

Net revenues from the Non-for-Profit Museum operation to be managed by a special Foundation will go to funding special interest projects to improve life in Jamaica.

All supporters and lovers of Reggae Music are invited to go to Kickstarter.com where you can pledge your support. To learn more about this Kickstarter Project, please visit:
www.kickstarter.com to pledge your contribution

For further information, please contact: Chazz Morris: 718-757-0306 Mobile