The Wailers perform in Beaver Creek Sunday

BEAVER CREEK, Colorado — You’d be hard-pressed to find someone on the streets who has never heard a Bob Marley song. At the very least, they would likely recognize his name or a picture of the dreadlocked icon. Whereas other reggae artists are respected by fans and fellow artists, Marley is a legend who pretty much defines the genre. It doesn’t matter if you hate reggae music, you probably like at least one song by the man. Sadly, he died in 1981. But his music lives on through The Wailers.

Bob Marley & The Wailers, a band he fronted after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left their former band, The Wailers, propelled him into music’s mainstream and made him an icon. Now only bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett remains from the original lineup of Bob Marley & The Wailers still touring today. His brother, drummer Carlton “Carlie” Barrett, died in ’87.

Now The Wailers are fronted by reggae singer Elan Atias from Los Angeles, and they are currently on tour throughout America with a stop for a performance in Beaver Creek Sunday night.

“(Marley) was my inspiration and I was influenced by him. I’m not trying to fill his shoes, I’m not trying to be him,” said Atias during a phone interview while on the road in Idaho.

Atias made it clear that he isn’t in the band to steal any of Marley’s thunder or to try to impersonate him.

“I hear a lot of people (say) ‘you got the vibe, you’re keeping the music alive and you’re adding your own touch to it. You’re bringing a good energy and you’re bringing it to a new millennium,’” Atias said.

Hardest working band

During their performance at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, The Wailers will perform the classic Bob Marley & The Wailers’ album “Exodus” in its entirety. The album contains memorable hits like “Jamming,” “Three Little Birds” and “One Love.”

Justin Barnett, aka DJ Jahstone, hosts a reggae radio show on 102.1 KSMT in Summit County and co-hosts a live reggae show at the Sandbar in Vail Sunday nights. He’s seen The Wailers several times in concert and said it’s a show any reggae fan should attend at least once.

“They established themselves as probably the hardest working band in the reggae business. It’s a very tight instrumental band and I think that’s due to the success of Bob Marley ... even though they lost their lead man, it’s kind of like their music carries on because it’s so good,” Barnett said.

Barnett said while he loves all Bob Marley & The Wailers’ albums, the band matured the most with “Exodus.”

“I just think it’s an outstanding album from front to back,” Barnett said.

Strong in spirit

Despite all of the lineup changes and the death of key members of The Wailers, their music lives on, many generations later.

“We’ve had so many members in this band, from ’67 until now. And it’s really more about the music and the message and the movement of roots reality and culture.

That’s why this band is what they are today and what they were and what they will be. It will last forever,” Atias said.

Barnett couldn’t agree more.

“The spirit of The Wailers I think is very strong and it’s one of those torches that just keeps on burning,” Barnett said.

High Life Writer Charlie Owen can be reached at 970-748-2939 or cowen@vaildaily.com.