Often imitated, never duplicated, Rastafarian Bob Marley and his trademark dreadlocks would take the entire world by storm with his backup band The Wailers. After a series of setbacks, disappointments and shortcomings, Marley was able to almost literally burst onto the music scene internationally. He is one of Jamaica’s most beloved musicians and this is his story.
Bob Marley's Early Life
Born February 6, 1945, in the small village of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, Bob Marley, would grow up to become one of music’s most beloved social/political voices. Bob Marley’s birth name was Nesta Robert Marley. A passport official in Jamaica would actually be the one to switch Marley’s first and middle name.
Bob Marley’s mother, Cedella Booker, was of Afro-Jamaican descent, while Marley’s father, Norval Sinclair Marley, was of English descent. His parents married when his mother was 18 years old. Norval Marley was a sea captain, and therefore, was not around often. Norval Marley would die early in Marley’s life, when he was just ten, of a heart attack. This deeply affected the young Bob Marley.
Growing up of mixed heritage Marley often found himself dealing with racial prejudices. Marley would choose to most closely identify with his Afro-Jamaican heritage the older he got as a result. A lot of his future social stances would stem from his mixed heritage as an adult.
At the young age of 14 Bob Marley dropped out of school to pursue music. This was after becoming friends and jamming with Neville Livingston (Barry Wailer). It was then with Joe Higgs, a local singer, that Marley would pursue his music career. Marley met fellow musician Peter McIntosh (Peter Tosh) while in a jam session with Higgs and Wailer.
Music Career (The Wailers)
In 1963 Marley formed a rock-steady and ska music group. They were first called The Teenagers with Beverley Kelso, Peter Tosh, Cherry Smith, Bunny Wailer and Junior Braithwaite and Bob Marley. The group then switched names to The Wailing Rudeboys and they then switched names to The Wailing Wailers. It was at this point that producer Coxsone Dodd discovered the group. They all finally settled on The Wailers.
By the mid 1960s Smith, Kelso, and Braitwaite would leave The Wailers. This left Marley, Tosh, and Wailer. Around the same time something much brighter would occur in Marley’s life. Marley would marry Rita Anderson in 1966. The two moved to Delaware in the United States for a short period. During this short period Bob Marley would operate under the name Donald Marley and would work at a Chrysler plant in an assembly line.
Once Marley returned to Jamaica he would become a Rastafarian. After a number of troubles with Dodd, Marley and the remaining members of The Wailers got together with Lee Perry and his studio band. This arrangement would last less than one year, but many great recordings resulted from the pairing of The Wailers and Perry’s The Upsetters. Despite the split Marley and Perry would work together again and remain close friends.
From 1968-72 The Wailers would cut demos of some previously recorded tracks along with Bob Marley’s wife Rita Marley. They recorded the demos with JAD Records partially in London, England and Kingston, Jamaica. This was an attempt to commercialize The Wailers. Some time after this Bob Marley would meet Jimmy Norman.
Norman was a popular songwriter in America. The two had a three day jam session and what would arise from this session would be a pop infused 24 minute recording of Marley performing some of his tunes and some of Norman’s. These pop recordings were meant to help break The Wailers in America, however, in 1974 The Wailers mysteriously broke up.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
As a Wailer Bob Marley was able to make a name for himself and was even known internationally in some circles, but it would be as a solo act that Bob Marley’s star would truly shine brightest. Marley would go on to perform under the name Bob Marley and The Wailers, releasing eleven albums. Marley’s first hit song outside of Jamaica would be “No Woman, No Cry” from his Natty Dread album.
In 1976 Marley, his manager and his wife were shot at and injured. Marley’s injuries were minor in the chest and arm; however his wife’s and manager were much more serious. All three would recover fully over time. Marley would actually perform just two days after the shooting at a political concert. It is believed this was the reason he was shot at. Near early ’77 Marley left Jamaica to live in England.
Marley remained in England for two years and recorded two albums there. His Exodus release stayed on English charts for over a year. Marley then moved back to Jamaica and would perform at yet another political concert, but this time things worked out the way Bob Marley had wished with political rivals Seaga and Manley shaking hands on stage. This was a highlight of Marley’s career.
Bob Marley's Death
In the summer of 1977 Marley found out he had acral lentiginous melanoma. This was found in a wound Marley received while playing soccer. Marley refused medical attention to the soccer wound due to his Rastafarian beliefs. In 1980 the cancer spread into other parts of Marley’s body. Marley was in the middle of a big tour when this happened and was forced to cancel it.
Marley received a highly controversial cancer treatment outside of Jamaica for eight months. But despite all the effort Marley’s health wasn’t getting any better. Marley would return home by plane to Jamaica. Mid flight Marley’s health worsened and he was rushed to a hospital in Miami, Florida, USA where the plane had landed.
Bob Marley died the morning of May 11, 1981. Marley was just 36 years old. Marley received a state funeral in Jamaica on the 21st of that May. Bob Marley today lays buried in a chapel with his Fender Stratocast.
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