Who Was Bob Marley?

Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley helped introduce reggae music to the world and remains one of the genre’s most beloved artists, having sold more than 75 million records. In 1963, Marley and his friends formed The Wailing Wailers, which eventually became Bob Marley & The Wailers. The Wailers’ big break came in 1972 when the band landed a contract with Island Records. Marley went on to sell more than 20 million records throughout his career, making him the first international superstar to emerge from the so-called developing world. A father to 11 children, Marley died from cancer in May 1981 at age 36.

Early Life

Robert Nesta Marley—better known as Bob Marley—was born on February 6, 1945, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica.

Marley’s mother, Cedella Malcolm (later Cedella Booker), a native of Jamaica, was only 18 when she married a much older white man, Norval Sinclair Marley, who worked as a plantation supervisor. They separated shortly after Bob’s birth. Originally from East Sussex, England, Norval was largely absent from his son’s life, and Bob later on.

Bob spent his early years in St. Ann Parish, in the rural village known as Nine Miles. One of his childhood friends in St. Ann was Neville “Bunny” O’Riley Livingston. Attending the same school, the two shared a love of music. Bunny inspired Marley to learn to play the guitar. Later Livingston’s father and Marley’s mother became involved, and they all lived together for a time in Kingston, according to Christopher John Farley’s Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley.

Arriving in the Jamaican capital in the late 1950s, Marley lived in Trench Town, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. He struggled in poverty, but he found inspiration in the music around him. Trench Town had a number of successful local performers and was considered the Motown of Jamaica. Sounds from the United States also drifted in over the radio and through jukeboxes. Marley liked such artists as Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and the Drifters.

Marley and Livingston devoted much of their time to music. Under the guidance of Joe Higgs, Marley worked on improving his singing abilities. He met another student of Higgs, Peter McIntosh (later Peter Tosh) who eventually played an important role in Marley’s career.

Music Career Beginnings

Local record producer Leslie Kong liked Marley’s vocals and had the teenager record a few singles, the first of which was “Judge Not,” released in 1962. Although he didn’t fare well as a solo artist, Marley found some success joining forces with his friends. In 1963, Marley, Livingston, and McIntosh formed The Wailing Wailers. Their first single, “Simmer Down,” went to the top of the Jamaican charts in January 1964. By this time, the group also included Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith.

Wife Rita Marley

Around the time of The Wailers’ hiatus in the mid-1960s, Marley married Alfarita “Rita” Anderson on February 10, 1966.

Rita, who was originally from Cuba but moved to Jamaica, sang in church growing up and joined a vocal group called The Soulettes as a teenager. She met Marley while in the group, and he coached her during this time. They continued collaborating professionally when Rita was a member of the I-Threes.

Bob Marley & The Wailers

As he began having children, Marley continued his musical career. The Wailers added two new members in 1970: bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett and his brother, drummer Carlton “Carlie” Barrett. The following year, Marley worked on a movie soundtrack in Sweden with Johnny Nash.

The band got its big break in 1972 when The Wailers landed a contract with Island Records, founded by Chris Blackwell. The group’s first full album under the new label was the critically acclaimed Catch a Fire from 1973. To support the record, The Wailers toured Britain and the United States in 1973, performing as an opening act for both Bruce Springsteen and Sly & the Family Stone. That same year, the group released their second full album, Burnin’, featuring the hit song “I Shot the Sheriff.” Rock legend Eric Clapton released a cover of the song in 1974, and it became a No. 1 hit in the United States.

The couple shared five children and remained married until Bob’s death in 1981, despite his multiple extramarital affairs. Rita had trysts herself, and both had children with other partners during the marriage. “As they say you grunt and bear [the infidelity], that’s what I had to do because I was so in love with this man and love grew stronger, it’s not that it grew weaker,” she told BBC Caribbean.com in 2004.

Shot in 1976

Back in Jamaica, Marley continued to be seen as a supporter of the People’s National Party. And his influence in his native land was seen as a threat to PNP’s rivals. This might have led to the assassination attempt on Marley in 1976.

A group of gunmen attacked Marley & The Wailers while they were rehearsing on the night of December 3, 1976, two days before a planned concert in Kingston’s National Heroes Park. Marley was shot, with one bullet striking his sternum and bicep. Another butllet hit Rita in the head. Fortunately, the Marleys weren’t severely injured, but manager Don Taylor wasn’t as lucky. Shot five times, Taylor needed surgery to save his life. Despite the attack and after much deliberation, Marley still played at the show. The motivation behind the attack was never uncovered, and Marley fled the country the day after the concert.

Later Albums and Songs

Now living in London, Marley went to work on Exodus, which was released in 1977. The title track draws an analogy between the biblical story of Moses and the Israelites leaving exile and his own situation. The song also discusses returning to Africa. The concept of Africans and descendants of Africans repatriating their homeland can be linked to the work of activist Marcus Garvey. Released as a single, “Exodus” was a hit in the United Kingdom, as were “Waiting in Vain” and “Jamming,” and the entire album stayed on the British charts for more than a year. Today, Exodus is considered to be one of the best albums ever made.

Death

Marley’s illness was a resurgence of the acral lentiginous melanoma discovered earlier in his toe. The cancer had now spread throughout his body, including his brain, lungs, and liver. Traveling to Europe, Marley underwent unconventional treatment in Germany and was subsequently able to fight off the cancer for months. However, it soon became clear that Marley didn’t have much longer to live.

The musician set out to return to his beloved Jamaica one last time to receive the Order of Merit from the Jamaican government. But, he didn’t manage to complete the journey. Marley died in Miami on May 11, 1981, at age 36.

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

Marley’s death set off a legal battle over his estate, as he did not leave a will. According to Rolling Stone, his widow, Rita, was reportedly forced to sign a fake will in the late 1980s; the Jamaican government soon took control of the estate and sold it to the head of Island Records, Chris Blackwell. After a court battle, the family was granted possession in 1991.