Bob Marley

Bob Marley

Musician

February 6, 1945-May 11, 1981

Age 36

Cause of Demise: Cancer

His music continues to be popular throughout the world, and in the years since his death Bob Marley’s musical influence would be impossible to overestimate. His images of love, peace and equality resonate with each new generation.

Born of a Jamaican mother and white father, Bob decided on life as a musician early on. With his mother, Bob moved to ‘Trenchtown’ a ghetto outside of Kingston, Jamaica that was literally on the trench that drained waste from the city. In Trenchtown, Bob hooked up with Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, forming the Wailing Wailers. The three spent hours listening to radio stations playing African American music from the US, and then combined those influences with the island sound of ska. The Wailing Wailers grew in popularity throughout the Caribbean.

During the 60’s, Bob became more influenced by the Rastafarian movement, a belief that Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was descended directly from King Solomon and the savior of the African people. Bob’s new found spiritualism found it’s way into his music.

Personal changes caused the Wailing Wailers to become the Wailers, and Bob as principal songwriter and singer became the leader. A trip to London in 1972 found the Wailers broke and stranded. Bob approached the head of Island Records, who was familiar with the group and quickly signed them.

With Island’s financial backing, the Wailers recorded several successful albums and toured the world. Another line up change, and the Wailers became Bob Marley and the Wailers.

In 1976, Bob survived an assassination attempt in his home. But a toe injured playing soccer in 1978 festered and eventually became cancerous. Amputation may have saved Bob, but that was against his Rastafarian beliefs. He attempted alternative treatments, but the cancer continued to spread throughout his body, eventually killing him.