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A detailed exploration of a unique musical culture and a lovingly detailed character study of a true original, The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee "Scratch" Perry focuses on the life and career of the musical legend who some call a prophet, and others call a madman. In his youth, Perry was a mentor to a young Bob Marley, who would later go on to define the sound of modern reggae. After subsequently pioneering a darker version of reggae christened "dub," he would be among the first to experiment with the studio sound known as the "remix" while producing hit singles for such artists as The Clash and Paul McCartney. Fans marveled when Perry constructed Black Ark Studio with his own hands, and then scratched their heads in bewilderment when he burned the studio down in a drug-induced rampage. Yet through it all, musicians across the globe continue to site Perry as a major stylistic influence.