BOB MARLEY BIOGRAPHY

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Bob Marley

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Bob Marley Biography

The most renowned reggae musician of all time, Jamaica Robert Nesta Marley (better known as Bob Marley), was responsible for taking the genre of music to masses outside Jamaica. This Jamaican singer, guitarist, songwriter and activist was born on February 6, 1945. Struggle of the impoverished or powerless is the underlying theme of most of his songs. He is also noted for the way he spread faith through songs.

Bob Marley hails from Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica. His father is Norval Marley, a Jamaican-born plantation overseer of English descent. Cedella Booker, a black lady from the North Country is her mother. The marriage of Cedella and Norval was to take place on June 9th, 1944. Almost a week before this, Norval told Cedella that he would be changing job and shifting to Kingson, due to ill health (he was suffering from chronic hernia). At that time mixed race relationship was looked down upon and the father never really knew his son Bob.

Bob married Rita Anderson Marley, who was one of his regular back-up singers (the I Threes). She gave birth to 4 of his 9 acknowledged children. Among them, David Ziggy Marley and Stephen Marley continue their father�s musical tradition through their band, the Melody Makers. Another son, Damian Marley a.k.a. "Jr Gong", has also embarked onto his musical career.

Starting his musical experimentation in ska, Marley gravitated towards reggae as the genre was evolving. For a decade from 1970 he had been playing, teaching and singing. He is acclaimed for his great work with his reggae group "The Wailers", which comprised two other reggae celebrities, Bunny Wailer aka Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh. But both left the group later and became successful solo artists.

Financial pressure came in the way of Marley's relationship with Coxsone Dodd, who produced many of Marley�s early works at Studio One. In early 1970s, he collaborated with Lee Perry and then came out what is believed to be his finest work. Though the duo parted over the recording rights issue, they united again in London and their friendship remained until Marley's death.

Marley signed to Chris Blackwell's Island Records label in 1971, a very influential and innovative label at that time. Though it is believed that Blackwell interfered with Marley�s ideas, it helped Marley's dream to make reggae world famous. Marley�s, �No Woman, No Cry� was the first hit that brought him fame on a wider level.

In 1976, just two days before a free concert was organized by Marley and the then Jamaican PM Michael Manley in the run up to the general election, Marley got shot inside his home at 56 Hope Road home. His wife Rita and manager Don Taylor were also victims. Marley received minor injuries in the arm and chest and her wife too received injuries in head. Don Taylor who took most of the bullets in his legs and torso was serious, but later recovered. Political rivalry was found to be the reason behind the incident.

Towards the end of 1976, Bob Marley left Jamaica and went to England. There he recorded both Exodus and Kaya. It was during this time that he was caught in the hands of law for the possession of a joint of marijuana. In 1979 came his release of "Africa Unite" on the Survival album and was invited to perform at Zimbabwe�s Independence Day celebrations on April 17, 1980. �Rastaman Vibration�, which excelled in the US charts, was also a recognition for reggae as well as his peace efforts. �War� carried the message of H.I.M. Haile Selassie to the young generation in a more pronounced manner.

In July 1977, Marley noticed a wound on his right big toe, which looked like a soccer injury. Later it was diagnosed as a form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, which grew under his toenail. Marley would not allow amputating his toe and said it was to abide by his Rastafarian belief. Moreover, he was worried about the impact it would have on his career as a performing reggae artist.

The killer disease spread to his brain, his lungs and his stomach. Realizing the seriousness of his ill health, Marley went under the treatment of controversial cancer specialist, Josef Issels for several months, but it didn�t work out.

Marley was baptised into the Coptic Orthodox Church a few months before his demise. He was christened Berhane Selassie, which means the Light of the Holy Trinity in Coptic. He was also presented the Jamaican Order of Merit just a month before his end. His wish was to spend his final days in his homeland, but he had to land in Miami on his way home from Germany due to his deteriorating health. The legendary musician breathed his last at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on May 11, 1981. His body was laid to rest in a crypt at Nine Miles, near his birthplace. Beside the dead body were kept, his Gibson guitar, a bud of marijuana and a Bible.