Today is celebrated World Bob Marley Daythe global reggae icon remembered not only for his contribution to music, but also for his cultural impact and his message of love, peace and resistance.
Born on February 6, 1945 in Nine Mile, Jamaica under the name Robert Nesta MarleyBob emerged as a musical and spiritual leader who transcended boundaries and left a lasting legacy.
His face has long been a musical symbol, the protagonist of millions of posters and t-shirts. His artistic works have served as influence of an entire generation and the passage of time continues to consolidate it as a reference that never stops transcending.
The beginnings with “The Wailers”
In 1963, at the age of 18, Bob Marley formed, together with his childhood friends, Bunny Wailer and Peter Toshthe group ““The Wailing Wailers”all three became heavily involved in the Rastafarian movement. Shortly after, the group renamed itself “The Wailers”.
The band took ska towards rocksteady and included social and political messages in their lyrics. Together with the historic Jamaican producer Lee Perry the band’s first hits arrived: “Soul Rebel”, “Duppy Conqueror”, “400 Years” and “Small Axe”songs that would become reggae classics.
In the spring of 1972 “The Wailers” came to England to promote the single ““Reggae on Broadway”, but they were not very successful. Marley contacted Chris Blackwell founder of Island Records and obtained financing for the band’s next album. That first album with Island Records was “Catch a Fire”. The album that contained the song “Stir It Up” It was not an immediate success, but little by little its socially conscious music and lyrics gained followers.
In 1973 the band would record their sixth album “Burnin”is the last album to feature the founding members of the group Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. The album brought future classics such as: “Get Up, Stand Up” and “I Shot the Sheriff”the latter would be popularized by Eric Clapton a year later, reaching first place on the list of the best-selling singles in the USA.
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From Jamaica to the world
After the departure of Tosh and Bunny WailerBob would take absolute control of the group, starting in 1974 they would be known as “Bob Marley & The Wailers”. In this period the albums would arrive “Natty Dread” (1974), and “Rastaman Vibration” (1976). In addition, the concerts stand out in the Lyceum Ballroom of London(from there the disk is extracted “Live!”) and a benefit concert given in Jamaica with Stevie wonder.
In 1977 already installed in Londonrecorded his next album, “Exodus”one of the most important of his career and of reggae. “Exodus” consolidated Marley’s international status; three of his most successful singles emerged from the album: “Waiting in Vain”, “Three Little Birds” and “Jammin” In 1978 the band achieved new success with “Kaya”which reached fourth place in England one week after its launch. The singles were taken from the album: “Satisfy My Soul” and “Is This Love?”.
In April 1978 he returned to Jamaica for One Love Peace Concertthere he got the Prime Minister Michael Manley and the opposition leader Edward Seaga joined hands on stage, in an effort to stop political violence and promote national reconciliation.
The band’s next album, “Uprising”was released in May 1980 and was an immediate success with “Could you be Loved?”. The album that would be the last released with Bob Marley in life, it also included “Coming In From The Cold”, “Work” and the famous “Redemption Song”.
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The legend is born
In 1977 during a soccer game, he suffered a stomp on his right foot that caused an injury to his big toe. In a clinicThey detected a type of malignant melanoma and advised him to amputate the finger. Marley flatly refused, dreadlocks cannot remove even the slightest part of his body. fuThat’s when Bob’s ordeal began.
Three years later, in October 1980, he visited NY for the first time to give two performances in the Madison Square Garden. There he had a terrible decompensation, he was transferred to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, the diagnosis was the worst: the cancer had advanced in its metastasis to the brain, lungs, liver and stomach.
After months of treatments Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981 in Cedar Hospital of Miamihe was 36 years old. Bob, who had systematically refused to leave a will, in addition to a million-dollar musical legacy, left a widow, Rita, and 12 recognized children (one more would be born 19 days after his death) from 8 different women.
In 1984 the posthumous album would be released “Legend” a greatest hits compilation “Bob Marley & The Wailers”. The album is the best-selling in the history of reggae, 40 years after it was released, it has sold more than 33 million copies worldwide.
Bob Marley’s life comes to the cinema
Bob Marley: One Love, highlights the life and legacy of the late reggae icon. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach BaylinFrank E. Flowers and Terence Winter, the film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir like Marley, along with Lashana Lynch Like Rita Marley.
It is a celebration of the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. For the first time on the big screen, we discover Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his groundbreaking music.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
