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Marley is born
Robert Nesta Marley is born in Jamaica, his dad a middle age white British naval officer and mom a teenage Jamaican mother. -
Marley records his first song.
Records his first song in Kingston. Recorded by legendary reggae producer, Leslie Kong. -
The Bob Marley And the Wailers Band record over 70 songs
Up until 1966: The band, who change their name to Bob Marley and the Wailers, record over 70 songs for producer Coxsone Dodd, including many tracks Marley would re-record to international acclaim in the 1970s. -
Marley creates Band
He creates the original Wailers band. Then known as the Teenagers , with Peter Tosh, Bunny Livingstone, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso and Cherry Smith. -
Marley gets married
Marley marries soul singer Rita Anderson, a member of The Soulettes and later the I-Threes, with whom he will have five children. Shortly after marrying, he moves to the US to work in a factory. -
Band records with Lee Perry
Until 1971: The band record with noted Jamaican producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. This period includes many classic tracks such as Small Axe, My Cup and Sun is Shining. -
Marley forms own record label
Marley forms his own record label, Tuff Gong. -
Marley and Band sign to Chris Blackwell's Island Records
Bob Marley and the Wailers sign to Chris Blackwell's Island Records. They release the album Catch a Fire, the first to make a major impression in music markets outside the Caribbean. Livingston and Tosh, however, leave the band to embark on solo careers. -
Eric Clapton covers The Wailers
Eric Clapton covers The Wailers' I Shot the Sheriff and takes it into the UK top 10, further adding to their reputation. -
Marley becomes a star all over the globe.
The band release the seminal album Natty Dread, which contains their landmark song No Woman, No Cry. Marley becomes a star all over the globe. -
Marley and wife get hurt in an assassination atempt.
Marley and wife Rita are injured in an assassination attempt in Jamaica. Days later, he takes to the stage with his arm in a sling. -
Doctors find cancerous cells in his right foot.
Marley breaks one of the toes on his right foot in a football accident in Paris. Doctors find cancerous cells and remove them. -
Holds One Peace Love concert in Kingston
He holds the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston, bringing the leaders of Jamaica's rival political factions to the stage to shake hands. -
Marley and Wailers kick off year with concert in Zimbabwe.
Marley and The Wailers kick off the year with a concert in the newly-independent African nation of Zimbabwe. Later in the year, while jogging in New York's Central Park, Marley collapses. Doctors discover cancer has spread to his lungs, liver and brain. -
Marley Dies age of 36
Marley dies in hospital in the US, aged 36. -
Marley Museum is opened
The Marley Museum is opened in Kingston, on the site of his former home.
