Bob Marley

"Marley" redirects here. For other uses, see Marley (disambiguation) and Bob Marley (disambiguation).

The Honourable
Bob Marley
OM
Black and white image of Bob Marley
Marley in 1976
Born
Robert Nesta Marley

(1945-02-06)6 February 1945
Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica
Died11 May 1981(1981-05-11) (aged 36)
Miami, Florida, US
Resting placeBob Marley Mausoleum, Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica
Other names
  • Skip
  • Tuff Gong
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • guitarist
Years active1962–1980
Spouse
​
(m. 1966)​
Children11, including:
MotherCedella Booker
Relatives
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Labels
Formerly ofThe Wailers
Websitebobmarley.com

Robert Nesta Marley OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive vocal and songwriting style.[2][3] Marley increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide and made him a global figure in popular culture.[4][5] He became known as a Rastafarian icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality.[6] Marley is also considered a global symbol of Jamaican music and culture and identity and was controversial in his outspoken support for democratic social reforms.[7][8] Marley also supported the legalisation of cannabis and advocated for Pan-Africanism.[9]

Born in Nine Mile, Jamaica, Marley began his career in 1963, after forming the group Teenagers with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, which became the Wailers. In 1965, they released their debut studio album, The Wailing Wailers, which included the single "One Love", a reworking of "People Get Ready". It was popular worldwide and established the group as a rising figure in reggae.[10] The Wailers released 11 more studio albums, and after signing to Island Records, changed their name to Bob Marley and the Wailers. While initially employing louder instrumentation and singing, they began engaging in rhythmic-based song construction in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which coincided with Marley's conversion to Rastafari. Around this time, Marley relocated to London, and the group embodied their musical shift with the release of the album The Best of The Wailers (1971).[11]

Bob Marley and the Wailers began to gain international attention after signing to Island and touring in support of the albums Catch a Fire and Burnin' (both 1973). Following their disbandment a year later, Marley carried on under the band's name.[12] The album Natty Dread (1974) received positive reviews. In 1975, following the global popularity of Eric Clapton's version of Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff",[13] Marley had his international breakthrough with his first hit outside Jamaica, a live version of "No Woman, No Cry", from the Live! album.[14] This was followed by his breakthrough album in the United States, Rastaman Vibration (1976), which reached the Top 50 of the Billboard Soul Charts.[15] A few months later, Marley survived an assassination attempt at his home in Jamaica, which was believed to be politically motivated.[16] He permanently relocated to London, where he recorded the album Exodus, which incorporated elements of blues, soul, and British rock and had commercial and critical success. In 1977, Marley was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma; he died in May 1981, shortly after baptism into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Fans around the world expressed their grief, and he received a state funeral in Jamaica.

The greatest hits album Legend was released in 1984 and became the best-selling reggae album of all time.[17] Marley also ranks as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of more than 75 million records worldwide.[18] He was posthumously honoured by Jamaica soon after his death with a designated Order of Merit by his nation. In 1994, Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone ranked him No. 11 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[19] and No. 98 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[20] His other achievements include a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

  1. ^ Freed, Kenneth (13 February 1995). "Bob Marley Festival Spreads Some 'Rastaman Vibration' : Anniversary: Jamaica concert marks the 50th birthday of the late reggae icon and poet-musician". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  2. ^ Samuels, A.J. (20 April 2012). "Bob Marley: Anatomy of an Icon". Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. ^ "'Marley' – a new view of a cultural icon". www.youthlinkjamaica.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. ^ "7 Fascinating Facts About Bob Marley". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  5. ^ Toynbee, Jason (8 May 2013). Bob Marley: Herald of a Postcolonial World. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 1969–. ISBN 978-0-7456-5737-0. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  6. ^ Masouri, Jon (11 November 2009). Wailing Blues – The Story of Bob Marley's Wailers. Music Sales Group. ISBN 978-0-85712-035-9. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Bob Marley". Los Gatos Library. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  8. ^ mauzy (31 January 2020). "Bob Marley Day celebration is Feb. 6". OHIO News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  9. ^ Soni, Varun (2 July 2010). "Bob Marley's Spiritual Legacy". huffingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  10. ^ Gooden, Lou (2003). Reggae Heritage: Jamaica's Music History, Culture & Politic. AuthorHouse. pp. 293–. ISBN 978-1-4107-8062-1. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  11. ^ Lee, Bunny (23 August 2013). "Interview". Reggae Vibes (Interview). Interviewed by Peter I. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  12. ^ Barrett, Aston "Family Man" (19 February 2013). "Interview". Pure Guitar. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  13. ^ Paul Sexton (14 September 2021). "Eric Clapton's 'I Shot The Sheriff': E.C. Takes Bob Marley To The World". udiscovermusic. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2021.,
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Inc.1975 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Inc.1976 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Gane-McCalla, Casey (2016). Inside the CIA's Secret War in Jamaica. Los Angeles, Calif: Over the Edge Books. ISBN 978-1-944082-07-9. OCLC 1105632241.[page needed]
  17. ^ Mcateer, Amberly (15 October 2014). "Deadly profitable: The 13 highest-earning dead celebrities". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  18. ^ Meschino, Patricia (6 October 2007). "'Exodus' Returns". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 42. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.