( l - r ) Hill, Marley

Holding On To Jah: The Genesis Of A Revolution is a recently released documentary by two American film-makers on the history of roots-reggae and the influence the Rastafarian religion has on the music.

It was directed by Nevada-born cinematographer Roger Landon Hall and produced by Harrison Stafford, a native of San Francisco and member of the American roots-reggae band, Groundation.

Holding On To Jah features interviews with several big names in roots-reggae, including Sam Clayton of the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Bernard Collins of the Abyssinians, members of Israel Vibration and the Congos, Joseph Hill of Culture, IJahman Levi, Sugar Minott and U-Roy.

As well, it highlights the inspiration which pan-African Marcus Garvey and the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I had on the genre's most famous exponents, including Bob Marley.

Holding To Jah has got the thumbs-up from American director Jonathan Demme, acclaimed director of Silence of the Lambs.

"The film comes forth tremendous confidence, peace, trust, love and commitment to the truth," said Demme, who was recently linked as director for a documentary on Marley.

According to a release from producers, Holding On To Jah has been submitted for viewing at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Roots-reggae emerged in the late 1960s and took off internationally during the 1970s due to the popularity of acts like Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear and Culture. Although the sound waned in the 1980s, many performers such as Burning Spear, Culture and Black Uhuru maintained a loyal fan base in Europe and the United States.