The Undying Legacy of Bob Marley

Born on February 6, 1945 in rural St. Ann's Parish,Tosh, releasing "Bend Down Low" on their own
Jamaica, no one in Robert Nesta Marley’s life hadshort-lived Wail 'N' Soul 'M label. It was around this time
any idea of the kind of life this young son of athat Marley and the rest of the group devoted
middle-aged white father and teenaged black motherthemselves to the teachings of the Rastafari faith, a
would lead.cornerstone of Bob Marley's life and music until his
Known today as an iconic figure in the Reggae world,death. The Wailers went on to record a wealth of
Bob Marley was the first Jamaican artist to reach thenew material including "My Cup," "Duppy Conqueror,"
level of international superstardom. He began is musical"Soul Almighty," and "Small Axe."
journey at a young age. He left home at 14 to pursue1973's “Catch a Fire” was the first of The
a music career in Kingston, Jamaica, becoming a pupilWailers’ albums released outside of Jamaica, and
of local singer and devout Rastafarian Joe Higgs. Heimmediately earned worldwide acclaim and industry
recorded his first single, "Judge Not," in 1962.respect. The follow-up, “Burnin”, launched the
In 1963 Bob Marley teamed with fellow singers Petertrack "I Shot the Sheriff," later a Top Ten hit for Eric
Tosh, Bunny Livingston, Junior Braithwaite, BeverlyClapton in 1974. 1977's “Exodus” was Bon
Kelso, and Cherry Smith to form the vocal group theMarley’s biggest record to date, generating the hits
Teenagers; later rechristened the Wailing Rudeboys,"Jamming," "Waiting in Vain," and "One Love/People
and later simply The Wailers. The group signed on withGet Ready." “Uprising” was the final album
producer Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One andreleased in Bob Marley's lifetime. He died May 11, 1981,
recorded their debut, "I'm Still Waiting."at the age of 36 of untreatable cancer that had
When Braithwaite and Smith exited the Wailers, Bobspread to his brain, lungs and liver.
Marley assumed lead vocal duties, and in early 1964Today his legacy lives on. Bob Marley songs gave
the group's follow-up, "Simmer Down," topped thevoice to the day-to-day struggles of the Jamaican
Jamaican charts. A series of singles including "Let Himexperience, vividly capturing not only the plight of the
Go (Rude Boy Get Gail)," "Dancing Shoes," "Jerk incountry's impoverished and oppressed, but also the
Time," "Who Feels It Knows It," and "What Am I to Do"devout spirituality that remains their source of strength.
followed, and in all, the Wailers recorded some 70Now, more than a quarter century after his death, Bob
tracks before breaking up in 1966.Marley is still one of the most popular reggae artists in
After returning to Jamaica nearly a year later, Bobthe world.
Marley re-formed the Wailers with Livingston and