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General Information
Robert Nesta Marley (February 6, 1945 - May 11, 1981), better known as Bob Marley, was a singer, guitarist and songwriter from the ghettos of Jamaica. He is most likely the best known reggae musician of all times, famous for popularising the genre outside of Jamaica. -
Childhood
Bob Marley was born in Jamaica to a black mother, Cedella Booker, and a white father, Norval Marley, on February 6, 1945, making him a mixed race person. Marley gravitated towards reggae as the music evolved, playing, teaching and singing. Marley is perhaps best-known for work with his reggae group "The Wailers" (ей), the backbone of which were two other celebrated reggae musicians, Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh. -
first steps in music
In the late 1950s, Marley, and many other Jamaican provincials, he moved with his mother in the Jamaican capital of Kingston, where he settled in a poor district of Trenchtown. There he met Neville Livingston, known as Bunny, with whom he began to make his first steps in music. -
Debut
At age 18, Bob Marley made his debut with the single «Judge Not», who wrote with Joe Higgs. In 1963, using the same Higgs Bob Marley organized a vocal group The Wailers, which, apart from him, includes Peter Tosh, Bunny Livingston, Junior Braithwaite, Cherry Green and Beverly Kelso. Musical director of the group became her bass player Aston «Family Man» Barrett. The first single, «Simmer Down» (1964) topped the Jamaican charts and has sold more than 80 thousand copies. -
Braking up
In 1965, The Wailers cut part to a trio and, despite the success of the songs (for example, "Rude Boy" became a local "Top 10"), broke up in 1966. -
Record Label
Marley's work was largely responsible for the mainstream cultural acceptance of reggae music outside of Jamaica. He signed to Chris Blackwell's Island Records label in 1971, at the time a highly influential and innovative label.
Marley was very devoted to his faith in Rastafarianism. He also preached brotherhood and peace for all of mankind. Toward the end of his life he was also baptised into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church with the name Berhane Selassie. -
cancer
In July 1977 Marley was advised to get his toe amputated to treat an old soccer injury that had become cancerous. He refused because Rastas believe that doctors are confidence men who cheat the gullible by pretending to have the power of witchcraft. Marley based this refusal on his Rastafarian beliefs, saying, "Rasta no abide amputation. -
Illness
In the summer of 1980, he collapsed during a series of shows at Madison Square Garden. He sought help, mostly from the controversial cancer specialist Josef Issels, but it was too late. A month before his death, he was awarded Jamaica's Order of Merit. He wanted to spend his final days in Jamaica but he became too ill. -
Depth
Sadly, he passed away at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on May 11, 1981. In the crypt are buried beside him guitar «Gibson Les Paul», a soccer ball, a bunch of marijuana. the Bible and the ring.
The last words he said to his son, were: «Money can’t buy life»
