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
Arise Blackman
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And be ye lifted up, ye ever livin' black people
The King of glory shall come in
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
We've been sittin' in the dirt too long
And it seems we don't know when we're right or wrong
But help me sing my song, Blackman arise
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself right now
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
For the moon shall turn into blood
And the rivers turn into flood
And the sun will never shine, Blackman arise
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Remember we've been down here as slaves
And to get a little job you have to trim and shave
Your heaven becomes your grave, Blackman arise
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
For the time of rights is now
And you don't have to ask me how
You've got to make a move, Blackman arise
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself right now
Arise Blackman, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Every man on earth is a man
And every tub have to stand on its own bottom
No matter where you're from, Blackman arise
So arise Blackman, arise
The song "Arise Blackman" by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh is a call to action to black people to rise up and assert their identity and worth. The song begins with an invocation for the gates to be lifted up so that the King of glory can come in. This is a metaphorical reference to the opening up of the hearts and minds of black people to receive a message of empowerment and liberation. The repetition of the phrase "Arise Blackman, arise" serves as a rallying cry for black people to become aware of their potential and stand up to the injustices and discrimination they face.
The song also speaks to the historical struggles of black people as slaves and how even in the post-slavery era, they still face discrimination and marginalization. The lyrics point to the fact that black people have been sitting in the dirt for too long, and need to rise up and assert their rights. The song highlights the idea that to get a job, black people have to conform to societal norms and expectations and therefore their heaven becomes their grave. The overall message of the song is that the time is now for black people to assert their identity and not let the world dictate who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Lift up your heads, o ye gates
Let us lift our heads with pride and dignity
And be ye lifted up, ye ever livin' black people
Let us stand tall as living, breathing black people
The King of glory shall come in
We invite the King of glory to join us in our struggle
Arise Blackman, arise
Black men, stand up and take control!
Arise and denote thyself
You have the power to define yourself, so do it now!
Arise Blackman, arise
Black men, stand up and take control!
Arise and denote thyself
You have the power to define yourself, so do it now!
We've been sittin' in the dirt too long
Our oppression has lasted too long
And it seems we don't know when we're right or wrong
We've been conditioned to believe in the oppressor's version of right and wrong
But help me sing my song, Blackman arise
We will sing our song and rise up, Black men!
For the moon shall turn into blood
The world will be transformed into a bloody battleground
And the rivers turn into flood
The rising of the oppressed will cause a powerful wave of change
And the sun will never shine, Blackman arise
If we don't act now, the future looks bleak for us and our children
Remember we've been down here as slaves
We must always remember our history of oppression and slavery
And to get a little job you have to trim and shave
We have to conform to oppressive standards just to get by
Your heaven becomes your grave, Blackman arise
If we don't take control of our lives, our aspirations will be buried with us
For the time of rights is now
It's time for us to demand our basic human rights
And you don't have to ask me how
We know what needs to be done, now it's time to act
You've got to make a move, Blackman arise
It's time to take action and seize the power for ourselves
Every man on earth is a man
All men are equal and must be treated as such
And every tub have to stand on its own bottom
Each person is responsible for their own actions and must make their own way
No matter where you're from, Blackman arise
We are all one people and must work together to rise up and take control
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Peter Tosh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ghuynelalcime1310
Ancestor Peter tosh is truly the Malcolm X of reggae.
@Aj18959
My brother would sing this song to me when I was sleeping all day as I got older I understood why he would sing it ❤
@mmg0705
Peter definitely should get more credit for his work.
@violetbrown9256
Whenever am in a bad mood, i listen to peter music and my soul is lifted.People dont underdtand how great this man is
@nyaganimwasamila
Tosh know alot about black man race.
@augustuswhite5211
HE'S LOVE MORE THAN BOB IN JAMAICA IF THAT IS POSSIBLE.
WE LOVE HIS MILITANT AND UNAPOLOGETIC APPROACH TO HIS MUSIC AND CULTURE.
JUST LIKE BOB HE BROUGHT THIS APPROACH AND EVEN MORE MILITANT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY.RIP PETER TOSH.
@macupeandile2473
Listening is a skill. Listen and lift yourself black man.you on your own black child..... arise Black man
@rastalavie
Arise
@mooniacful
revolutionary prophet. SIP
@sosouth15
He's not a prophet. Just a messenger.