The Contribution of Bob Marley to Reggae Music
Bob Marley is considered by many to be the father of reggae music. His contribution to the genre is undeniable, and his influence is still felt today.
Early Life
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, to Norval Sinclair Marley and Cedella Booker. His father was a Jamaican of English descent. His mother was a black Jamaican. Marley’s parents met when Norval was employed as a supervisor at the plantation where Cedella was a servant. Neither of them were married when they had Bob Marley.
Born in 1945 in Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, to Norval Sinclair Marley and Cedella Booker. His father was a white Jamaican of English descent. His mother was a black Jamaican. He was raised in the African Orthodox faith by his mother and his aunt. Marley’s high school headmaster, Marcus Garvey, inspired him with a vision of black unity and political empowerment that would stay with him throughout his life.
Moved to Trenchtown, Kingston at age 12
In search of a better life, Marley’s mother, Cedella, moved with Bob and his sister Daisy to the slums of Trenchtown, Kingston in 1957. Trenchtown was known for its strong sense of community and its vibrant music culture. It was here that Marley was exposed to the music of two of Jamaica’s most popular singers at the time, Lucky Dube and Jimmy Cliff. The young Marley was deeply influenced by their music and decided that he wanted to become a singer himself.
He quickly became a part of the local music scene, forming his first band, The Wailing Wailers, with friends Neville O’Riley Livingston (a.k.a. Bunny Wailer) and Peter McIntosh (a.k.a. Peter Tosh). The Wailing Wailers made their recording debut in 1963 with the single “Simmer Down”, which became a big hit in Jamaica.
Start of Career
First recordings in 1962 with Leslie Kong
Bob Marley’s first recordings were done in 1962 with Leslie Kong, a Chinese-Jamaican record producer who operated out of Jamaica. The sessions took place at Kong’s Beverly Hills studio, where Marley, then going by the name of Robert Nesta Marley, was backed by the Wailers, including Bunny Wailer on drums and vocalist Peter Tosh on guitar. The recordings were released as seven-inch singles on Kong’s Beverley’s Records label: “Judge Not”/”One Cup of Coffee”, “Terror”, and “Revelation”. In 1963, Marley recorded what would become his best-known song, “Simmer Down”, for sir Coxsone Dodd at Studio One.
First hit song, “Simmer Down”, in 1963
By the early 1960s, Marley was a resided in Kingston and he had begun his musical career. His first hit song, “Simmer Down”, was released in 1963 and it became an instant success in Jamaica. The song was a call for peace and unity amid the growing violence in Kingston. It also established Marley as a talented and promising singer-songwriter.
Rise to Fame
Born in the small town of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, Bob Marley was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who went on to become one of the most popular and influential reggae artists of all time. Marley’s music was a reflection of his own life and the struggles of his people, and his message of peace, love, and unity helped to change the course of reggae music.
Formed The Wailers in 1963
In 1963, Bob Marley was a teenager with big dreams of making it in the music industry. He joined forces with some friends to form a band called The Wailers. The Wailers quickly rose to fame in Jamaica and started to gain international attention in the 1970s. Reggae music was still relatively new at this time, and Bob Marley helped to popularize it with mainstream audiences. He is widely considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of reggae music.
Signed with Island Records in 1971
In February 1971, Marley and the Wailers signed a contract with Chris Blackwell’s Island Records. The group released their first island single, “Stir It Up”, which was a hit in Jamaica. The album Catch a Fire was released in April 1973 to critical acclaim; it is said to be one of the greatest debut albums of all time. The album underwent several re-releases, becoming one of the first international reggae hits. It established the Wailers and Marley as international stars and is credited with helping bring reggae to an international audience.
Contribution to Reggae Music
Bob Marley was a reggae singer, songwriter, and musician who was born in Jamaica. He started his career in 1963 with the group the Wailers and rose to fame in the 1970s with his hits “No Woman, No Cry” and “I Shot the Sheriff”. Marley is credited with helping to spread reggae music around the world and is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with estimated sales of more than 75 million records.
Help popularize reggae music outside of Jamaica
When people think of reggae music, the first name that comes to mind is often Bob Marley. Marley is considered one of the most influential musicians of all time, and his contribution to reggae music is undeniable.
Born in 1945 in Nine Mile, Jamaica, Marley began his musical career in 1963 with the release of his first single, “Simmer Down.” From there, he went on to release a string of hits that helped popularize reggae music outside of Jamaica. In 1972, he released his breakthrough album, Catch a Fire, which featured the hit single “Stir It Up.”
Marley’s success continued throughout the 1970s with the release of a number of well-received albums, including Rastaman Vibration (1976), Exodus (1977), and Kaya (1978). He also worked tirelessly to spread the message of peace and love through his music, becoming an international icon in the process.
Marley sadly passed away in 1981 at the age of 36, but his legacy continues to live on through his music. His impact on reggae is still felt today, and he remains an inspiration to musicians all over the world.
Bob Marley is widely known for his political and social commentary in his music, and is credited with helping to spread the Rastafarian religion and Jamaican culture around the world. He is also recognized as one of the pioneers of reggae music, and helped to set the style and sound that would come to be associated with the genre. Marley’s songs often dealt with themes of poverty, racism, and inequality, and he was a outspoken advocate for the rights of marginalized people throughout his career. His legend has only grown since his death in 1981, and he is now considered one of the most influential musicians of all time.
Later Years and Death
After the Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career which culminated in the release of the album Rastaman Vibration in 1976. The album was a commercial success and established Marley as a worldwide star. His subsequent releases, Exodus and Kaya, were also commercially successful. However, Marley’s health began to decline in the early 1980s.
Died of cancer in 1981
On May 11, 1981, Bob Marley performed at a free concert in Central Park, New York. It would be his last public performance. Two days later, he collapsed at his New York City apartment from cancer symptoms and was taken to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (now Cedars-Sinai Medical Center). He died on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36. The official cause of death was listed as a brain tumor.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994
On January 18, 1981, Marley collapsed while jogging in Central Park. He was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that he had cancerous growths in his brain, lung, liver and stomach. Marley underwent surgery to remove the cancerous growth from his brain but the cancer had spread too far and he died on May 11, 1981 at the age of 36. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered across his farm in Jamaica.
