Bob Marley

On Feb. 6, 1945, Robert Nesta Marley was born in Jamaica in Nine Miles within the Parish of St.Ann.

Bob spent his early years with his mother in St Bob spent his early years with his mother in St. Ann, then during his teens they moved to Kingston, the capitol of Jamaica. He developed a love for singing early on through his involvement in the church choir and the encouragement from friend Desmond Dekker.

Religion Bob's earliest experience with religion was guided by his mother's upbringing in Christianity. As a youth he spent time developing his musical awareness in the church choir. Later,he converted to Rastafarianism through the influences of those close to him (wife Rita,friends Jow Higgs and Bunny Livingston..)

Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, accepted as God incarnate, called Jah.

Marley’s influence Joe Higgs held great influence in Marley's rise to success. He was a Rastafarian in Kingston who encouraged and nutured young musicians by offering free music coaching at his home. Later, he joined Bob, becoming Bunny Livingston's replacement in the 1973 US tour.

The Wailing Wailers Bob formed the Wailing Wailers in 1962. The group was so named as Bob explained that , "In those days we were always crying". At the end of 1963, the Coxsone Dodd label released the Wailing Wailers' first single "Simmer Down". This song was written in response to the disturbances in the ghettos between the Rastas and the authorities telling everyone just to "cool it".

This was also the first time for Bob and the group's popularity to reach outside of Trenchtown Ska music was becoming relatively more well known and the so called Rude Boy anthems about the violence in the ghettos took on a cult like following.

Bob Marley and The Wailers

Family In 1966, Bob married Alpharita Anderson, better known as Rita.She was a singer herself and later would form the I-Three, which became the back up group for the Wailers. Together Bob and Rita had their children Sharon, Ziggy, Cedella, Steven and Damian who are all muscially talented, and make up the Melody Makers.

Rita Marley

UN Peace Medal Almost assassinated in 1976 in his Kingston home ,Marley was given the UN Peace Medal on behalf of 500 million Africans in 1978 for his humanitarian achievements.

One love peace concert The One Love Peace Concert was a large concert held on April 22, 1978 at The National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. This concert was held during a political civil war in Jamaica between opposing parties Jamaican Labour Party and the Peoples National Party. The concert came to its peak during Bob Marley and The Wailers' performance of "Jammin'", when Marley joined the hands of political rivals Michael Manley (PNP) and Edward Seaga (JLP).

Marley’s death On Monday, May 11, 1981 Bob Marley died at the age of 36. At first Bob went to the hospital for an injury left un-attended to his toe from a soccer accident, when he was diagnosed with cancer in his liver, lungs, and brain.

He spent his last year in several hospitals where news of his health were closely watched by all. Finally, four days after he passed away, the world was given notification that the Rastafarian phrophet had died, and a state funneral was held in his honor.

Tenk Ju Lea Bušelić