Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945 in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish in Jamaica. While growing up, Bob Marley was teased because his was mixed. Even though his father (a white soldier) married his mother and provided support for them, he seldom saw Bob Marley.

Bob Marley

“Jah live children yeah, Jah, Jah live children yeah.” Known as a revolutionary with a message of love and enlightenment, Bob Marley is an icon and a legend of the music industry.

Nesta Marley

Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945 in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish in Jamaica. While growing up, Bob Marley was teased because his was mixed. Even though his father (a white soldier) married his mother and provided support for them, he seldom saw Bob Marley. Throughout his life he was questioned about his identity and cultural background. When he was still a young boy he learned to play the guitar with his Bunny Wailer. Bob Marley dropped out of school when he was only 14 years old to pursue his music career. It was then that he met Peter McIntosh, better known as Peter Tosh, who later became his mentor and band mate. It wasn’t until around 1968, that Bob Marley became a devout Rastafarian.

Finding the right way

Under the name of Bobby Martell, Bob Marley released two songs, “One Cup of Coffee” and “Judge Not,” neither had much success. In 1963, Bob Marley, Junior Braithwaite, Cherry Smith, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Beverley Kelso started a band called “The Wailers.”  By 1996, there were three remaining members of the band Tosh, Wailer, and Marley. The Wailers released their album, Catch a Fire, in 1973, and not even a year later, they released Burning, and two of the most famous Bob Marley songs, “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Get Up, Stand Up.” The awesome rendition of “I Shot the Sheriff” recorded by Eric Clapton help the band achieve international success. The Wailers disbanded in 1974, simply because Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer wanted to pursue solo careers which both were successful.  

After the break up

Bob Marley released Natty Dread, and the international hit, “No Woman, No Cry” in 1975.A year later he released Rastaman Vibration which was a sensation in the U.S. spending more than a month on the Hot 100. While getting ready to perform for the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bob Marley, his wife, Rita of the I Threes and manager were shot in the Bob Marley home. Even though he was shot as well, Bob Marley still performed at for Prime Minister and 80,000 fans. After the attempted assassination, Bob Marley relocated to England where he recorded two albums, Kaya and Exodus. The latter album included songs like, “Jamming,” “Exodus,” and “One Love.” This album was on the British charts for more than 50 consecutive weeks. In total, Bob Marley has released more than 22 albums, some of his most powerful and religious songs, “Africa Unite,” “Jammin,” and “Forever Loving Jah,” Survival,” and “Redemption Song.”

Life before Death

It is said that when Bob Marley was 6 years old, he predicted that he would die at the age of 36. In 1977, Bob Marley had a wound on his foot that later turned into a form of cancer. By 1980, the cancer had spread and his health slowly deteriorated. Bob Marley was a devout Rastafarian, so he did not believe in Western medicine and tried to treat the cancer with herbs and natural remedies. Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36. He was buried on May 21, 1981, in Jamaica. Not only did he leave a legacy of music behind, but he also left behind 12 children. Damian, Ky -Mani, Ziggy, and Stephen Marley have all had successful music careers, sometime sampling their father’s music.

Did You Know..

… Bob Marley was buried with his guitar, a Fender Stratocaster

… In 1999, Bob Marley & The Wailer’s album, Exodus was chosen by Time Magazine as the most influential album of the 20^th century.

… In 2001, Bob Marley received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

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