Starting out in 1963 with the group Bob Marley & The Wailers, he forged a distinctive song-writing and vocal style that would later resonate with audiences worldwide.
The Wailers would go on to release some of the earliest reggae records with producer Lee Scratch Perry.
After The Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career which culminated in the release of the album Exodus in 1977 which established his worldwide reputation and became one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million albums and singles.
Bob Marley was a member of this Rastafari movement, whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae. Bob Marley became the leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene.
Now considered a "Rasta" prophet, Marley's adoption of the characteristic Rastafarian dreadlocks and famous use of marijuana as a sacred sacrament in the late sixties were an integral part of his persona. He is said to have entered every performance proclaiming the divinity of Jah Rastafari.
A few months before his death, Marley was baptised into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and took the name Berhane Selassie (meaning the Light of the Holy Trinity in Amharic).
His best known songs are a mixture of reggae, Roots Reggae, and rhythm and blues, which include:
I Shot the Sheriff
Exodus
Could You Be Loved
Redemption Song
No Woman, No Cry
Three Little Birds
Buffalo Soldier
Is This Love
One Love
Stir It Up
Jammin'
Get Up, Stand Up
His posthumous album Legend (1984) became the best-selling reggae album ever, with sales of more than 12 million copies.
Bob Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his album “Exodus” (1977) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC.
Awards and Honors:
1976 - Rolling Stone Magazine's "Band of the Year"
1978 - United Nations' Peace Medal of the Third World
1981 - Jamaican Order of Merit
1994 - The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
1999 - Time Magazine's Best Album of the Century
2001 - Star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2001- GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award
2004 - Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (#11)
2006 - The United Kingdom's "Blue Plaque"
2006 - Bob Marley Boulevard named in Brooklyn, New York
2010 - GRAMMY Hall Of Fame (Catch A Fire)
2012 - August the 7th, proclamed Bob Marley Day (Los Angeles)
2013 - GRAMMY Tribute Performance
Marley tragically died of cancer at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on May 11, 1981.
Religion:
Bob Marley was a member of the Rastafari movement, (not rastafaranism as that is seen as a derogortory term as Rasta's don't like being refered to as an ism) whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae music in Jamaica. Rastas belive they are outcast from their native Zion and looked on Ethiopia as their real home and Tafarai Makonnen, who took the title Haile Sellasie I(Power of the Holy Trinity in Amharic), after he became the emperor of Ethiopia, as their leader. Rastas belive H.I.M. is Jesus in flesh. Rastas are considered to be black Jews.
Rastas claim their root from King Solomon and Abbysinian queen of Sheba, through lineage of their son Menelik, emperor of Abbysinia. H.I.M. is said to be a direct decendant of Menelik. 'Ras' means Head and 'Tafarai" means Creator. 'Jah' is the shortened form of the Hebrew word Jehovah. Rastas belive in one truth and that is the truth of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Sellasie I, King of kings, Lord of lords, conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah, two hundred and twenty-fifth ruler of the three thousand year old Ethiopian empire, elect of Jah, Light of the world. Jah Rastafari live out. Rastas preach a non-materialistic, egalitarian way of life. Bob Marley became a leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of the socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene. Bob Marley was baptized by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church in Kingston, Jamaica on November 4, 1980.
Diet:
Marley's diet was ital; fruit, vegetables and fish; which is food approved by the Rastafari movement.
Family:
Bob Marley had 13 children: three with his wife Rita Marley, two adopted from Rita's previous relationships, and the remaining eight with separate women.
His children are, in order of birth:
Imani Carole, born May 22, 1963, to Cheryl Murray;
Sharon, born November 23, 1964, to Rita in previous relationship;
Cedella born August 23, 1967, to Rita;
David "Ziggy Marley", born October 17, 1968, to Rita;
Stephen Marley, born April 20, 1972, to Rita;
Robert "Robbie", born May 16, 1972, to Pat Williams;
Rohan, born May 19, 1972, to Janet Hunt;
Karen, born 1973 to Janet Bowen;
Stephanie, born August 17, 1974; according to Cedella Booker she was the daughter of Rita and a man called Ital with whom Rita had an affair; nonetheless she was acknowledged as Bob's daughter;
Julian Marley, born June 4, 1975, to Lucy Pounder;
Ky-Mani Marley, born February 26, 1976, to Anita Belnavis;
Damian Marley, born July 21, 1978, to Cindy Breakspeare;
Makeda, born May 30, 1981, to Yvette Crichton.
See here for comedian Bob Marley the comedian: Comedian Bob Marley
09 Slave Driver
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, you gonna get burn (catch your fire) wo, now!
Every time I hear the crack of a whip
My blood runs cold
How they brutalize the very souls
Today they say that we are free
Only to be chained in poverty
Good God, I think it's illiteracy
It's only a machine that makes money
Slave driver, the table is turn, you'll ooh-ooh-oo-ooh
Slave driver, uh! The table is turn, baby, now (catch your fire)
(Catch your fire) so you can get burn, baby, now (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
(Catch your fire) so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Every time I hear the crack of a whip
My blood runs cold
I remember on the slave ship
How they brutalize your very soul
Oh God, have mercy on our souls!
Oh, slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn
"Slave Driver" is a compelling and masterful song by the legendary Bob Marley. The song shines a spotlight on the topic of slavery by using metaphors that encompass the entire institution of slavery. The lyrics "Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)" conveys the idea that the roles are reversed now and the oppressors become the oppressed. It urges the slave driver to feel the same pain that they inflicted on the slaves for decades. The remainder of the song takes a retrospective account of the brutality and suffering endured by the slaves.
The song also makes a profound statement about modern-day society. Marley states that people are still enslaved despite the law being changed. He says, "Today they say that we are free, only to be chained in poverty." Marley is informing people that the world's poor are still being exploited and mistreated, and it is a central theme of his message of love, justice, and equality.
In summary, "Slave Driver" is Marley's powerful musical message of the inequality and exploitation that still evident in the world. The song ends on a prayerful note, asking for mercy on all souls, including those who perpetuated the slave trade.
Line by Line Meaning
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
The one who used to oppress others is now in trouble
Catch your fire, so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Suffer the consequences of your own actions
Every time I hear the crack of a whip, My blood runs cold
The sounds of slavery still haunt me deeply
I remember on the slave ship, How they brutalize the very souls
The horrors of slavery still linger in my mind
Today they say that we are free, Only to be chained in poverty
The freedom we gained is not enough to escape poverty and inequality
Good God, I think it's illiteracy, It's only a machine that makes money
The root cause of these problems is ignorance and the greed of those in power
Oh God, have mercy on our souls!
We need divine intervention to help us overcome these struggles
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sic Music
This whole album is such fire it’s disgusting how tight and nasty this band was. Every musician laying down so serious shit. This is almost more spiritual then musical. Can u imagine seeing this live. Bob said we don’t need no overdubs!!
Liverpool vs Everybody
Kinda ruined it with the word shit. Then again. I kinda like it followed by nasty. Gave it some thought. 👊🏾 ❤️
Carlos Betancourt
The bass is insane ! One of my favorites 🔥
john macharia
Touches every nerve, the bass line💗💗
lsrcas
essa introdução... apenas para poucos
victor hugo
Best album ❤🙏🏻
Juliano Daitx
O Bob era demais
Patrick Esteves
Best version ever!
Foret 4a
Nah, I still gotta go with the official album versions of this song
Jean Francois
Le top💖💖💖💖💖💖💖