Key Facts About Bob Marley
- He was a singer, musician, and composer from Jamaica.
- Robert Nesta Marley was his full name.
- His birthday was February 6, 1945.
- He passed away on May 11, 1981.
- Norval Sinclair Marley and Cedella Malcolm were his parents.
- He had four other siblings.
- He comes from Jamaican ancestry.
- He had a wife named Rita Anderson.
- His wealth was estimated at $30,000,000.
Who is Bob Marley?
Bob Marley was a famous musician, singer, and songwriter from Jamaica. He was born on February 6 1945, and passed away on May 11 1981. His full name is Robert Nesta Marley, and he was awarded the Order of Merit. Along with his unique voice and songwriting approach, he set himself apart in the music industry by fusing aspects of reggae, ska, and rocksteady. He is well recognised as an early figure in the development of reggae. Bob Marley is a cultural icon recognised all over the world. His work has helped bring Jamaican music to a broader audience.
Bob Marley Early Life
Bob Marley was born in February 1945 in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. His parents were Norval Sinclair Marley and Cedella Malcolm.
Bob Marley Education
Bob Marley went to Stepney Primary and Junior High School, which has a large Saint Ann student population as its catchment area.
Bob Marley Career
Bob Marley had a successful year in terms of his career in 1962. At Federal Studios that year, he recorded “Judge Not,” “One Cup of Coffee,” “Do You Still Love Me?” and “Terror” with local music producer Leslie Kong. Beverley’s published three songs, including “One Cup of Coffee” by Bobby Martell (under a pseudonym). Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith were all members of his band, The Teenagers. It started in 1963. Later, they changed their name to Wailing Rudeboys and then to Wailing Wailers. That was after record producer Coxsone Dodd discovered them and then the Wailers. They released their first song, “Simmer Down,” on the Coxsone label in February 1964, and by March, it had risen to the top of the Jamaican charts, with 70,000 copies reportedly sold.
There was a shift in Jamaican music around the year 1969. It had a slow, steady, ticking rhythm. Motivated by this, he sought out Leslie Kong, a producer generally credited with shaping the reggae sound. Beverley’s All-Stars (bassist Lloyd Parks, drummer Jackie Jackson, keyboardist Gladstone Anderson, pianist Winston Wright, and guitarists Rad Bryan, Lynn Taitt, and Hux Brown) were Leslie Kong’s studio musicians who collaborated with the Wailers on the recordings.
In 1972, Bob Marley joined CBS Records and toured the United Kingdom with soul singer Johnny Nash after signing with the label in London. The Wailers had their tour manager, Brent Clarke, contact Chris Blackwell of Island Records, who had licenced some of the group’s Coxsone recordings when they were in London. It was expected that the Wailers would negotiate royalties for these releases, but instead, they were offered £4,000 to make an album. Blackwell was searching for a new reggae superstar after the departure of Jimmy Cliff.
Bob Marley, his wife, and manager Don Taylor were all shot in their house by unknown gunmen on the night of December 3, 1976, only two days before “Smile Jamaica,” a free concert scheduled by Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley to ease tensions between two warring political parties. The wife of Taylor and Bob Marley was severely hurt, but she eventually got better. Bob Marley was stabbed in the chest and arm, but the wounds were not serious. Many people thought the event was a rally in support of Prime Minister Michael Manley. Hence they assumed the assassination attempt was politically motivated. Even though Bob Marley was hurt, he still performed two days later as planned.
In July 1977, malignant melanoma was discovered under Bob Marley’s toenail. After consulting with two physicians, a biopsy was performed, and the results confirmed that he had acral lentiginous melanoma. This lesion was not caused by a gaming injury but rather was an indicator of a preexisting tumour, contrary to popular perception. Acral lentiginous melanoma, in contrast to other melanomas, which typically occur on sun-exposed skin, manifests in locations that are more difficult to notice, such as the soles of the feet or under the toenails. Despite being the most common form of melanoma in persons of colour, it was not included in the most widely used medical textbook until recently.
The Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (now known as The Benedum Center For The Performing Arts) was the site of Bob Marley’s last performance on September 23, 1980. Only a few photos from the exhibit are public knowledge, and they all appeared in Kevin Macdonald’s Bob Marley documentary. Bob Marley flew to Jamaica after eight months of ineffective treatment for his worsening cancer. He lost some of his most basic capabilities during the flight. After arrival in Miami, Florida, he was taken straight to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (later the University of Miami Hospital) for treatment. On May 11, 1981, at age 36, he passed away after melanoma metastasised to his brain and lungs. He told his son Ziggy, “Money can’t buy life.”
Bob Marley Parents
Bob Marley’s parents are Norval and Cedella Marley.
Bob Marley Siblings
Bob Marley’s siblings include Constance Marley, Anthony Booker, Richard Booker, and Pearl Livingston.
Bob Marley Ethnicity
Bob Marley’s ancestry was Jamaican.
Bob Marley Religion
Reggae legend Bob Marley was a devout Rastafarian. Additionally, he is a fervent follower of the Catholic faith.
Bob Marley Wife
Bob Marley married Rita Anderson on February 10, 1966, in Kingston, Jamaica.
Bob Marley Children
Bob Marley was a father to 11 children during his life.
Bob Marley Social Media
Learn more about Bob Marley by searching for “@bobmarley” on Twitter and Instagram.
Bob Marley Net Worth
According to some estimates, Bob Marley was worth around $30 million.
