Bob Marley Biography
Bob Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981), born Nesta Robert Marley, later changed by passport officials to Robert Nesta Marley, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist. He became the most widely known figure in reggae music, particularly roots reggae, and was instrumental in popularizing the genre outside of Jamaica and the Caribbean. His music often addressed the struggles of the spiritually wealthy Rastas and the powerful Jah Rastafari.
Marley began his career in 1963 with the group Bob Marley & The Wailers, where he developed a distinctive songwriting and vocal style that resonated with audiences worldwide. The Wailers released some of the earliest reggae records with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, establishing a foundation for Marley's influential career.
After The Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career, achieving international acclaim with the release of the album "Exodus" in 1977. This album solidified his reputation and helped him become one of the world's best-selling artists, with over 75 million albums and singles sold.
Marley was deeply involved in the Rastafari movement, which played a crucial role in the development of reggae music. He became the leading proponent of Rastafari, bringing the culture and music from Jamaica's socially deprived areas to the international stage. Marley's adoption of Rastafarian symbols, including his dreadlocks and use of marijuana as a sacred sacrament, became integral to his public persona. He often began his performances by proclaiming the divinity of Jah Rastafari.
In a significant spiritual shift, Marley was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church a few months before his death, taking the name Berhane Selassie, which means "Light of the Holy Trinity" in Amharic. Judy Mowatt, a key member of Bob Marley's backing group I-Three, worked closely with him and his wife, Rita Marley, throughout their music career. Mowatt was deeply involved in Marley's life, both professionally and personally, and witnessed his final moments. Despite Marley's acceptance of Christ, Mowatt told Cross Rhythms journalist and broadcaster Mike Rimmer in a 2005 interview that this aspect of his life was often suppressed by those who wanted to maintain his image as a Rasta icon, stating, "Nobody wants to promote that [truth about Bob’s conversion]... People need to know, because they would be drawn also to Jesus Christ."
Some of Marley's best-known songs, a blend of reggae, roots reggae, and rhythm and blues, include:
- "I Shot the Sheriff"
- "Exodus"
- "Could You Be Loved"
- "Redemption Song"
- "No Woman, No Cry"
- "Three Little Birds"
- "Buffalo Soldier"
- "Is This Love"
- "One Love"
- "Stir It Up"
- "Jammin'"
- "Get Up, Stand Up"
His posthumous album "Legend" (1984) became the best-selling reggae album of all time, with over 12 million copies sold.
Marley received numerous accolades both during his life and posthumously, including his 1994 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in December 1999, Time Magazine named "Exodus" (1977) as the Album of the Century. The BBC also honored his song "One Love" as the Song of the Millennium.
Awards and Honors:
- 1976: Rolling Stone Magazine's "Band of the Year"
- 1978: United Nations' Peace Medal of the Third World
- 1981: Jamaican Order of Merit
- 1994: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
- 1999: Time Magazine's Best Album of the Century
- 2001: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 2001: GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2004: Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (#11)
- 2006: The United Kingdom's "Blue Plaque"
- 2006: Bob Marley Boulevard named in Brooklyn, New York
- 2010: GRAMMY Hall Of Fame (Catch A Fire)
- 2012: August 7th, proclaimed Bob Marley Day (Los Angeles)
- 2013: GRAMMY Tribute Performance
Marley tragically passed away from cancer on May 11, 1981, at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida.
Religion:
Marley was a dedicated member of the Rastafari movement, which was integral to the development of reggae in Jamaica. Rastafarians, who see themselves as exiles from their native Zion, regard Ethiopia as their true homeland and Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as their leader. They believe that Selassie is a divine figure, Jesus incarnate. Rastafarian beliefs also include a connection to the biblical lineage of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, with Haile Selassie considered a descendant. Marley's commitment to Rastafari was evident in his lifestyle, his music, and his public persona. However, in a profound turn later in life, Marley was baptized by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church in Kingston, Jamaica, on November 4, 1980.
Diet:
Marley's diet was ital, consisting of fruits, vegetables, and fish, aligning with Rastafarian dietary principles.
Family:
Bob Marley had 13 children, three with his wife Rita Marley, two adopted from Rita's previous relationships, and the remaining eight with other women.
His children, in order of birth, are:
- Imani Carole, born May 22, 1963, to Cheryl Murray;
- Sharon, born November 23, 1964, to Rita in a previous relationship;
- Cedella, born August 23, 1967, to Rita;
- David "Ziggy Marley," born October 17, 1968, to Rita;
- Stephen Marley, born April 20, 1972, to Rita;
- Robert "Robbie," born May 16, 1972, to Pat Williams;
- Rohan, born May 19, 1972, to Janet Hunt;
- Karen, born 1973 to Janet Bowen;
- Stephanie, born August 17, 1974; although acknowledged as Bob's daughter, she was the result of an affair Rita had with a man named Ital;
- Julian Marley, born June 4, 1975, to Lucy Pounder;
- Ky-Mani Marley, born February 26, 1976, to Anita Belnavis;
- Damian Marley, born July 21, 1978, to Cindy Breakspeare;
- Makeda, born May 30, 1981, to Yvette Crichton.
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