Background

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, and was given the birth name Nesta Robert Marley. His father – Norval Sinclair Marley, was a white British naval captain and nearly 60 years old. Bob’s mother – Cedella, was a black 19-year-old country villager. Due to this racial duality, Marley was bullied and given the nickname ‘White Boy’ in a derogatory context by his neighbors. He said in his later interviews that the experience actually helped him adopt the philosophy: “I’m not on the white man’s side, or the Black man’s side. I’m on God’s side.”

His career took off when he founded a music group with his friends Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston, called ‘The Wailers.’ In February 1966, Bob married Rita Marley and it was she who introduced him to the concept of Rastafariansim. This heavily influenced Marley’s musical style, especially on the reggae front. In collaboration with Lee Scratch Perry, The Wailers went on to produce some of their best tracks like ‘400 Years,’ ‘Duppy Conqueror,’ ‘Small Axe,’ and ‘Soul Rebel.’

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In the 1960s, The Wailers soared to popularity in Jamaica, and in 1972 they signed a contract with ‘Label Island Records.’ The band became an international sensation with the release of their album ‘Catch a Fire’ in 1973. Their next album ‘Burnin’ featured the songs ‘I Shot The Sheriff,’ and ‘Get Up, Stand Up,’ which gathered cult followings. In 1974, The Wailers decided to pursue solo careers and disbanded.

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Bob continued to hone and create his personal artistry, but also spent much of the 1970s advocating cultural understanding in Jamaica. In 1976, during one of his peace concerts, an assassination attempt was made on his life, along with his wife and manager. All of them survived and Marley showed up two days later for his next gig.

In 1977, following a wound on his toe which wouldn’t heal, Bob Marley consulted a doctor and was diagnosed with cancer. The physician suggested the removal of his toe, which Bob declined as it went against his Rastafarian beliefs. The next few years were a time of massive success for him; Marley was the only international artist to be part of the independence ceremony of Zimbabwe. He also planned an American tour to reach blacks living within the U.S. Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to other vital organs of his body. On May 11, 1981, Bob Marley died at the age of 36 in Miami Hospital. His legacy, philosophy, and music live on, with Marley himself revered as a cultural icon around the world.

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