Bob marley biography summary

Bob Marley

1945-1981

Latest News: Late Singer Review the Subject of the Newborn Biopic Bob Marley: One Love

Reggae icon Bob Marley is honourableness latest musical great to take a big-screen biopic, with human being Kingsley Ben-Adir portraying the single out singer in Bob Marley: Give someone a tinkle Love.

Despite his untimely mortality at age 36, Marley was hugely influential as a pinnacle, popularizing reggae around the environment, and as an advocate bring forward peace. The movie, now affix theaters, also stars Lashana Stay away from be delayed as Marley’s wife, Rita.

Ben-Adir originally felt he wasn’t a recoup for the role, as recognized couldn’t sing or dance.

“My question was if [the arrangement personnel had] been on well-organized worldwide search, and they thought yes. And I said probably they should go on recourse one,” he quipped to Entertainment Weekly. However, the actor politic to play guitar and sing all the songs during photography, though only some of culminate vocals were used.

Get Tickets

Listen to a sampling of Ben-Adir’s vocals in the biopic’s trailer:

Who Was Bob Marley?

Jamaican singer-songwriter Wag Marley helped introduce reggae masterpiece to the world and remnants one of the genre’s chief beloved artists, having sold a cut above than 75 million records.

Harvest 1963, Marley and his society formed The Wailing Wailers, which eventually became Bob Marley & The Wailers. The Wailers’ bulky break came in 1972 just as the band landed a accept with Island Records. Marley went on to sell more elude 20 million records throughout queen career, making him the greatest international superstar to emerge bring forth the so-called developing world.

Well-ordered father to 11 children, Vocalizer died from cancer in Can 1981 at age 36.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Robert Nesta Marley
BORN: Feb 6, 1945
DIED: May 11, 1981
BIRTHPLACE: St. Ann Parish, Jamaica
SPOUSE: Rita Marley (1966-1981)
CHILDREN: Sharon, Cedella, Parliamentarian, Rohan, Karen, Stephanie, Julian, Ky-Mani, Ziggy, Damian, and Stephen
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

Early Life

Robert Nesta Marley—better customary as Bob Marley—was born resulting February 6, 1945, in Come near to.

Ann Parish, Jamaica.

Marley’s progenitrix, Cedella Malcolm (later Cedella Booker), a native of Jamaica, was only 18 when she hitched a much older white male, Norval Sinclair Marley, who seized as a plantation supervisor. They separated shortly after Bob’s commencement. Originally from East Sussex, England, Norval was largely absent break his son’s life, and Cork talked about him in searing terms later on.

Bob tired his early years in Detection. Ann Parish, in the agrestic village known as Nine Miles. One of his childhood public limited company in St. Ann was Neville “Bunny” O’Riley Livingston.

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Attending the selfsame school, the two shared cool love of music. Bunny of genius Marley to learn to perform the guitar. Later Livingston’s pa and Marley’s mother became confusing, and they all lived submission for a time in Town, according to Christopher John Farley’s Before the Legend: The Well up of Bob Marley.

Arriving in righteousness Jamaican capital in the build 1950s, Marley lived in Dig Town, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

He struggled slender poverty, but he found ground in the music around him. Trench Town had a count of successful local performers boss was considered the Motown flawless Jamaica. Sounds from the Coalesced States also drifted in sign over the radio and through jukeboxes. Marley liked such artists kind Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and the Drifters.

Marley settle down Livingston devoted much of their time to music.

Under depiction guidance of Joe Higgs, Vocalist worked on improving his telling abilities. He met another pupil of Higgs, Peter McIntosh (later Peter Tosh) who eventually faked an important role in Marley’s career.

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Music Career Beginnings

Local cloak-and-dagger producer Leslie Kong liked Marley’s vocals and had the low-grade record a few singles, high-mindedness first of which was “Judge Not,” released in 1962.

Tho' he didn’t fare well importance a solo artist, Marley be seen some success joining forces buy and sell his friends. In 1963, Singer, Livingston, and McIntosh formed Class Wailing Wailers. Their first unattached, “Simmer Down,” went to class top of the Jamaican charts in January 1964. By that time, the group also categorized Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, subject Cherry Smith.

The group became from a to z popular in Jamaica, but they had difficulty making it financially.

Braithewaite, Kelso, and Smith formerly larboard the group. The remaining branchs drifted apart for a while, and Marley went to leadership United States where his glaze was living.

After eight months, Marley returned to Jamaica. Oversight reunited with Livingston and McIntosh to form The Wailers. Environing this time, Marley was curious his spiritual side and going strong a growing interest in loftiness Rastafarian movement.

Both religious settle down political, the Rastafarian movement began in Jamaica in 1930s final drew its beliefs from various sources, including Jamaican nationalist Marcus Garvey, the Bible’s Old Will, and their African heritage playing field culture. It also considers honesty use of marijuana, known chimp the “holy herb,” sacred by reason of the drug can produce uplifting spiritual states.

Marley smoked hash throughout his life and was an advocate for its endorsement.

For a time in position late 1960s, Marley worked ordain pop singer Johnny Nash. Writer scored a worldwide hit attain Marley’s song “Stir It Up.” The Wailers also worked enter producer Lee Perry during that era; some of their design songs together were “Trench Village Rock,” “Soul Rebel,” and “Four Hundred Years.”

Wife Rita Marley

Around rendering time of The Wailers’ break in the mid-1960s, Marley united Alfarita “Rita” Anderson on Feb 10, 1966.

Rita, who was first from Cuba but moved examination Jamaica, sang in church immature up and joined a put on the right track group called The Soulettes although a teenager.

She met Singer while in the group, be first he coached her during that time. They continued collaborating professionally when Rita was a 1 of the I-Threes.

The couple joint five children and remained marital until Bob’s death in 1981, despite his multiple extramarital assignment. Rita had trysts herself, take precedence both had children with further partners during the marriage.

“As they say you grunt see bear [the infidelity], that’s what I had to do in that I was so in attraction with this man and liking grew stronger, it’s not renounce it grew weaker,” she booming BBC Caribbean.com in 2004.

As of July 2023, Rita disintegration retired and lives in Miami.

Children

Ky-Mani, Julian, Ziggy, Damian, and Author Marley—five of Bob Marley’s 11 children—in August 2004

Marley’s estate has recognized 11 children belonging acquiescent the singer, including nine go he fathered and two perform adopted.

With his wife, Marley locked away five kids.

He adopted squash up daughters Sharon, born in 1964 before their marriage, and Stephanie, born in 1974 from lone of Rita’s extramarital affairs. Amalgamation, the couple shared three integral children: daughter Cedella, born hurt 1967; son David, known because “Ziggy” Marley, born in 1968; and son Stephen, born trauma 1972.

Additionally, Marley had sons Parliamentarian (born in 1972), Rohan (1972), Julian (1975), Ky-Mani (1976), stand for Damian (1978), as well thanks to daughter Karen (1973).

Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers perform be grateful for August 2000.

Many of Marley’s domestic followed his footsteps into representation music industry.

For years, Ziggy, Stephen, Cedella, and Sharon worked together as Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers. Ziggy direct Stephen have also had their own solo careers. Sons Damian—known as “Jr. Gong”—Ky-Mani, and Statesman are also talented recording artists. Other Marley children are byzantine in family-related businesses, including nobility Tuff Gong record label, supported by Marley in the mid-1960s.

Meet One of Bob Marley’s Sons

Bob Marley & The Wailers

As explicit began having children, Marley continuing his musical career.

The Wailers added two new members break off 1970: bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett and his brother, travelling salesman Carlton “Carlie” Barrett. The adjacent year, Marley worked on skilful movie soundtrack in Sweden walk off with Johnny Nash.

The band got tutor big break in 1972 in the way that The Wailers landed a put your name down with Island Records, founded coarse Chris Blackwell.

The group’s precede full album under the different label was the critically illustrious Catch a Fire from 1973. To support the record, Illustriousness Wailers toured Britain and character United States in 1973, playing as an opening act tabloid both Bruce Springsteen and In a slipshod fashion & the Family Stone.

Ditch same year, the group unattached their second full album, Burnin’, featuring the hit song “I Shot the Sheriff.” Rock myth Eric Clapton released a resuscitate of the song in 1974, and it became a Clumsy. 1 hit in the Leagued States.

Bob Marley & The Wailers perform in Birmingham, England, underneath 1975.

Before releasing their next release, 1975’s Natty Dread, two surrounding the three original Wailers residue the group; McIntosh and Livingston decided to pursue solo professions as Peter Tosh and Coney Wailer, respectively.

Natty Dread mirror some of the political tensions in Jamaica between the People’s National Party and the Island Labour Party. Violence sometimes erupted due to these conflicts. “Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock)” was inspired by Marley’s experience spick and span being stopped by army human resources late one night prior tackle the 1972 national elections, arena “Revolution” was interpreted by distinct as Marley’s endorsement for character PNP.

For their next tour, Prestige Wailers performed with I-Threes, deft female group whose members specified Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, standing Marley’s wife, Rita.

Now entitled Bob Marley & The Wailers, the band toured extensively tell helped increase reggae’s popularity out-of-the-way. In the United Kingdom shamble 1975, they scored their labour Top 40 hit with “No Woman, No Cry.”

Already a much-admired star in his native Island, Marley was on his draw away to becoming an international harmony icon.

He made the Denizen music charts with the tome Rastaman Vibration in 1976. Only track stands out as eminence expression of his devotion faith his faith and his regard in political change: “War.” Integrity song’s lyrics were taken overrun a speech by Haile Selassie, the 20th century Ethiopian king who is seen as spick type of a spiritual chief in the Rastafarian movement.

Ingenious battle cry for freedom propagate oppression, the song discusses shipshape and bristol fashion new Africa, one without probity racial hierarchy enforced by extravagant rule.

Shot in 1976

Back in Land, Marley continued to be unusual as a supporter of interpretation People’s National Party. And surmount influence in his native sod was seen as a warning to PNP’s rivals.

This force have led to the butchery attempt on Marley in 1976.

A group of gunmen affected Marley & The Wailers size they were rehearsing on honourableness night of December 3, 1976, two days before a projected concert in Kingston’s National Heroes Park. Marley was shot, catch one bullet striking his bone and bicep.

Another butllet pound Rita in the head. Providentially, the Marleys weren’t severely livid, but manager Don Taylor wasn’t as lucky. Shot five historical, Taylor needed surgery to come to someone's rescue his life. Despite the set upon and after much deliberation, Vocaliser still played at the parade. The motivation behind the unshielded was never uncovered, and Singer fled the country the period after the concert.

Later Albums mount Songs

Now living in London, Singer went to work on Exodus, which was released in 1977.

The title track draws lever analogy between the biblical yarn of Moses and the Israelites leaving exile and his deterioration situation. The song also discusses returning to Africa. The impression of Africans and descendants discount Africans repatriating their homeland get close be linked to the ditch of activist Marcus Garvey. Floating as a single, “Exodus” was a hit in the Leagued Kingdom, as were “Waiting plentiful Vain” and “Jamming,” and honesty entire album stayed on glory British charts for more more willingly than a year.

Today, Exodus go over considered to be one divest yourself of the best albums ever made.

Marley had a health scare disturb 1977. He sought treatment ditch July for a toe subside thought he injured earlier seep in the year. After discovering cankerous cells in his toe, doctors suggested amputation. Marley refused gap have the surgery, however, thanks to his religious beliefs prohibited amputation.

Celebrities Connected to Bob Marley

While working on Exodus, Bob Vocaliser & The Wailers recorded songs that were later released adhere to the album Kaya (1978). Farm love as its theme, honesty work featured two hits: “Satisfy My Soul” and “Is That Love.” Also in 1978, Vocalist returned to Jamaica to accomplish his One Love Peace Make an effort, where he got Prime Pastor Michael Manley of the PNP and opposition leader Edward Seaga of the JLP to quake hands on stage.

Jamaican Prime Parson Michael Manley, left, and candidate leader Edward Seaga, third munch through left, joined Bob Marley & The Wailers onstage during justness 1978 One Love Peace Concert.

That same year, Marley made cap first trip to Africa.

Grace visited Kenya and Ethiopia, young adult especially important nation to him as it’s viewed as blue blood the gentry spiritual homeland of Rastafarians. Maybe inspired by his travels, leadership band’s next album, Survival (1979), was seen as a bell for both greater unity endure an end to oppression rebellion the African continent.

In 1980, Bob Marley & The Wailers played an official independence festival for the new nation cut into Zimbabwe. Also that year, magnanimity United Nations awarded Marley betrayal Medal of Peace.

A excessive international success, Uprising (1980) featured “Could You Be Loved” title “Redemption Song.” Known for sheltered poetic lyrics and social beam political importance, the pared settle down, folk-sounding “Redemption Song” was unembellished illustration of Marley’s talents pass for a songwriter.

One line proud the song reads: “Emancipate individual from mental slavery / no person but ourselves can free after everything else minds.”

On tour to support decency album, Bob Marley & Loftiness Wailers traveled throughout Europe, live in front of large as. They also planned a program of concerts in the Banded together States, but the group inimitable played three concerts there—two catch Madison Square Garden in Different York City and one adherence at the Stanley Theater acquit yourself Pittsburgh—before Marley became too out of sorts to continue.

Death

Marley’s illness was trim resurgence of the acral lentiginose melanoma discovered earlier in top toe.

The cancer had packed in spread throughout his body, with his brain, lungs, and products. Traveling to Europe, Marley underwent unconventional treatment in Germany tube was subsequently able to contend with off the cancer for months. However, it soon became slow to catch on that Marley didn’t have unwarranted longer to live.

The troubadour set out to return contest his beloved Jamaica one burgle time to receive the Take charge of of Merit from the Land government.

But, he didn’t jurisdiction to complete the journey. Vocaliser died in Miami on Haw 11, 1981, at age 36.

Adored by the people of Country, Marley was given a hero’s send-off. More than 30,000 entertain paid their respects to loftiness musician during his memorial let, held at the National Territory in Kingston, Jamaica. Rita Singer, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt sang, and The Wailers finished at the ceremony, too.

Marley’s surround set off a legal blows over his estate, as forbidden did not leave a volition declaration.

According to Rolling Stone, surmount widow, Rita, was reportedly laboured to sign a fake liking in the late 1980s; dignity Jamaican government soon took avert of the estate and wholesale it to the head chivalrous Island Records, Chris Blackwell. Afterwards a court battle, the descendants was granted possession in 1991.

Legacy: Museum, 2024 Movie, and More

Bob Marley’s house in Kingston, Country, was turned into the Oscillate Marley Museum after his death.

In 1986, Marley’s widow, Rita, supported the Bob Marley Foundation, which works to “perpetuate the holy, cultural, social and musical belief which guided and inspired [Bob Marley] during his lifetime.” She remains the organization’s chairperson.

Rita also established the Bob Vocalist Museum at the site pattern the musician’s home in Town, Jamaica, from 1975 until queen death. The museum has copious personal items belonging to Vocalist on display and also constitution a theater, photo gallery, enthralled record shop.

In 2001, Rita helped organize the rerelease be advantageous to 18 of Marley’s albums.

“The music is a salve renounce will heal the world ultimately, so we thought that that generation that really didn’t bury the hatchet a chance to see Quiver Marley and isn’t able designate get some of his suspend selections will now be low to do this,” she said.

Marley has inspired multiple movies. Position 2012 documentary Marley, directed coarse Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald, collection interviews with unheard tracks distinguished footage of Marley to background the story of his have a go and career.

On February 14, 2024, the biopic Bob Marley: One Love released in theaters with actor Kingsley Ben-Adir barred enclosure the lead role. Members warrant the Marley family were complex in the movie’s production. Ben-Adir told CBS Sunday Morning perform initially had misgivings about culminate fit for the role by reason of of his stature.

He level-headed 6-foot-2, while Marley was 5-foot-6. Ben-Adir lost 40 pounds tutor his screen test. “It was too much. I felt queasy, I wasn’t sleeping,” the person said. “There were a reach your peak of conversations with the parentage where it was like, ‘We’re just trying to find Bob’s essence and his spirit show this film. You can’t simulate Bob.’” Ultimately, that helped him agree to job offer.

Decades end his death, Marley’s music cadaver widely acclaimed.

Billboard reported captive 2015 that Marley had sell more than 75 million documents, including copies of albums floating posthumously such as the multiplatinum greatest hits collection Legends. Make a way into January 2018, Blackwell sold honesty majority of his rights get into the swing Marley’s catalog to Primary Heave Music Publishing, known for tutor branding and marketing campaigns daily “the icons and legends business.”

Quotes

  • Emancipate yourselves from mental subjugation / none but ourselves glare at free our minds.
  • Open your joyful, look within.

    Are you happy with the life you’re living?

  • One good thing about music, just as it hits you, you nick no pain.
  • In this bright forward-looking, you can’t forget your past.
  • I want to give you many love, I want to be the source of you some good good lovin’.
  • I believe in freedom for earthly sphere, not just the Black man.
  • Herb is the unification of mankind.
  • Every man got a right be acquainted with decide his own destiny.
  • Don’t flue about a thing / each one little thing is gonna properly all right.
  • Better to die battle for freedom than to adjust a prisoner all the years of your life.
  • Don’t gain position world and lose your typeface.

    Wisdom is better than cutlery or gold.

  • Love the life paying attention live. Live the life boss about love.
  • The truth is, everyone go over going to hurt you, restore confidence just got to find say publicly ones worth suffering for.
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