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
Cornerstone
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will always be the head cornerstone-a sing it brother
The stone that the builder refuse
Will always be the head cornerstone
You're a builder, baby
Here I am, a stone
Don't you pick and refuse me
Are the things they should choose
Do you hear me?
Hear what I say!
Stone that the builder refuse
Will always be the head cornerstone-a tell me why
The stone that the builder refuse, yeah!
Will always be the head cornerstone
Here I am baby
I am, a builder's stone!
Don't you pick and refuse me, listen
The tings people refuse
Are the things they should use
Do you hear me
Hear what I say
The stone that the builder refuse
Will always be the head cornerstone
The stone that the builder refuse
Will always be the head cornerstone
The stone that the builder refuse
Will always be the head cornerstone
The stone that dem builder refuse
Will always be the head cornerstone
The stone that the builder refuse
Will always be the head cornerstone
The stone
Cornerstone by Bob Marley is a powerful song that comments on the societal tendency to reject individuals, particularly those who are deemed unimportant or inferior by those in power. The lyrics in the chorus, "The stone that the builder refuse, will always be the head cornerstone," relay a message of empowerment, urging those who have been rejected to recognize their innate worth and ability to rise above their circumstances. The line "Don't you pick and refuse me, 'cause the things people refuse are the things they should choose," highlights the idea that those who are cast aside often possess unique perspectives and abilities that can ultimately lead them to greatness.
Throughout the song, Marley employs vivid imagery and metaphors that serve to enhance the theme of the chorus. By labeling himself a "builder's stone," Marley aligns himself with those who have been rejected, while also acknowledging his inherent value. The repetition of the phrase "here I am" further emphasizes his presence and worth in spite of the rejection he has faced.
Overall, the message of Cornerstone is one of resilience and self-worth. It urges listeners to recognize their own value and refuse to be defined by the judgments of others.
Line by Line Meaning
The stone that the builder refuse
The material that builders reject
Will always be the head cornerstone- a sing it brother
Is destined to become the most important part of the structure
You're a builder, baby
You have the power to create and shape things
Here I am, a stone
I am an essential component
Don't you pick and refuse me
Don't reject me
'Cause the things people refuse
Because the very things people reject
Are the things they should choose
Are actually the most valuable and important
Do you hear me?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Stone that the builder refuse
Unwanted building material
Will always be the head cornerstone- a tell me why
Will always become the most important part of the structure, but can you explain why?
Here I am baby
I am here, ready to be used
I am, a builder's stone!
I am a necessary building material
Don't you pick and refuse me, listen
Don't reject me, pay attention
The tings people refuse
The things people reject
Are the things they should use
Are actually the most important things
Do you hear me
Do you understand my message?
The stone that the builder refuse
The unwanted building material
Will always be the head cornerstone
Will become the most important part of the structure
The stone that dem builder refuse
The stone that the builders reject
Will always be the head cornerstone
Will become the most important part of the structure
The stone that the builder refuse
The material that builders reject
Will always be the head cornerstone
Will become the most important part of the structure
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cdgs7793
Bob Marley was rejected by his white Marley family because he was half black/half white.
Not a 100% white Marley as they all were.
There for, he made this song. I love it but it also hurts.
His halfsister listened to this song with an interviewer and said "where are the white Marley's now? Nobody remembers who they were, what they had and what they did.
(He went there to ask for a car to bring his music around. They used a bicycle but became famous in whole Jamaica. Radio stations didn't play the Wailers. Those radios stations belonged to record labels and weren't allowed to play their music. So they needed to borrow a car to spread their music)
They refused him a car because they refused HIM as a family member.
His half sister said "how true this song is. The world only knows the black Marleys and there are a lot of black Marleys because of him".
Bob became and still is 'the head cornerstone' of the Marleys.
His white second Marley cousin knew this song, but didn't know the what Marley was telling here. About the car and how the white Marley's refused him because he was a half breed. Black/white. (Don't refuse me)
Man, how that had to hurt Bob.
I bet, that the white Marley's will tell that BOB is family/related after he became that famous and adored around the whole world by black and white ppl. Bob didn't make himself. He was human, had red blood and a heart where the white Marleys stepped on very hard.
ONE LOVE ❣ love you BOB Marley.
@alexrrios
it's awesome to learn that the song was written about Bob being the stone, and his father was the builder who refused Bob Marley when he was a child, and now Bob is the head Cornerstone of the family and not his father, awesome
@giorgikhurtsidze3809
Alejandro Rios he wanted to get job in there but his father refused So he right song cornersone after this he moved in usa with her mom :) he was geniuses <3
@DonTeridon
Ye his fathers brother refused him...
It seems like his father was traveling around humping left and right
@TaongGreasy
Bob marley wrote this song about his uncle's who refuse him because of him being black but now people around the world know marleys and all of them is black ❤️
@askyalumumba3573
Bob took complete ownership of the last name " Marley ". This man was a visionary.
@scott8168
He went to borrow money from uncle who had business and they said no that's why wrote song
@jashkicks9821
Listening to this in 2024
@Khandi05
it wasnt his father's refusal.....his dad was dead by this time. he went to his father's family at a construction company they owed to get money to buy a car and they refused to believe that norval had a black son even though he looks EXACTLY like all of them. I love this song! I play it over and over! they refused him, but he's the reason that the Marley name will forever be in history. Jah bless Nesta!
@ChovitoHot
Facts
@chevking4127
That’s what I heard