Guide Note
Bob Marley was a world famous Reggae star and Jamaican Singer-Songwriter who is often credited with helping to popularize the genre of Reggae. Besides his music, he was also a vocal proponent of the Rastafari movement and spoke openly about the political and spiritual oppression of the Jamaican people.
Fast Facts
- Name: Robert Nesta Marley
- Born: February 6, 1945
- Died: May 11, 1981
- Years Active: 1962 - 1981
- Grammy Awards: 1
- Baptized by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian church in 1980.
Early Life
Born in a small village in Jamaica, Marley faced prejudice at an early age as the mixed-race son of a white Marine officer and a black Jamaican. After moving to the Trenchtown neighborhood of Kingston with his mother, Marley met and began to play music with a number of other like-minded friends (including Neville "Bunny" Livingston and Peter Tosh).
The Wailers
Marley formed the Wailers with Livingston and Tosh and released their debut album Catch a Fire in 1973. After breaking up to go their own separate ways, Marley formed a new band and continued to record under the name Bob Marley & the Wailers. The group scored an international hit in 1975 with the song "No Woman, No Cry" - which brought them to the attention of U.S. critics and fans.
Death
Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981 of brain cancer.
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