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
Crazy Baldheads
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh!
Them crazy
Them crazy
We gonna chase those crazy baldheads out of town
Chase those crazy baldheads out of our town
I and I plant the corn
Didn't my people before me
Slave for this country?
Now you look me with that scorn
Then you eat up all my corn
We gonna chase those crazy
Chase them crazy
Chase those crazy baldheads out of town
Build your penitentiary
We build your schools
Brainwash education
To make us the fools
Hate is your reward for our love
Telling us of your God above
We gonna chase those crazy
Chase those crazy bunkheads
Chase those crazy baldheads out of the town
Chase those crazy baldheads out of the town
We gonna chase those crazy
Chase those crazy bunkheads
Chase those crazy baldheads out of the town
Here comes the conman
Coming with his con plan
We won't take no bribe
We've got to stay alive
We gonna chase those crazy
Chase those crazy baldheads
Chase those crazy baldheads out of the town
"Crazy Baldhead" by Bob Marley & The Wailers is a song about rejecting the oppressive systems of colonialism and racism that have been inflicted on Jamaica by white colonizers. The lyrics focus on the idea of taking back control and power from those who have historically oppressed Black Jamaicans. The chorus "Chase those crazy baldheads out of town" refers to the baldheaded oppressors who are seen as "crazy," meaning they are acting irrationally in their pursuit of power and control.
The first two verses allude to the history of slavery and colonialism in Jamaica. Marley sings "Didn't my people before me / Slave for this country?" highlighting the past exploitation of the Jamaican people for the benefit of white colonialists. He then says "Now you look me with that scorn / Then you eat up all my corn," illustrating the continued exploitation and oppression of Jamaicans, as he is now being looked down upon despite the labor he has put into the land.
The third verse references the education system in Jamaica, which is seen as an oppressive tool used to brainwash and control the population. The line "Hate is your reward for our love / Telling us of your God above" speaks to the idea that the oppressive forces in power use religion as a means of control and justification for their actions.
Overall, "Crazy Baldhead" is a powerful anthem against oppression and a call to action for Jamaicans to take back their power and resist colonialism and racism.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh!
Expression of excitement and anticipation.
Them crazy
Referring to individuals with irrational or harmful behavior.
We gonna chase those crazy baldheads out of town
Intention to remove the individuals with destructive behavior from the community.
Chase those crazy baldheads out of our town
Similar to prior line, emphasizes the urgency and importance of removing the harmful individuals.
I and I build a cabin
I and I (we) constructed a home.
I and I plant the corn
I and I cultivated the corn.
Didn't my people before me slave for this country?
Asking rhetorically if those before us were exploited and mistreated in service for the nation.
Now you look me with that scorn
Receiving negative judgment and disdain despite having contributed to the community.
Then you eat up all my corn
Those who look down on individuals with ancestral ties to exploitation are freely consuming the fruits of their labor without acknowledging their contributions.
Build your penitentiary
Advocating for the construction of a correctional facility.
We build your schools
Parallel to prior line, we (I and I) constructed educational facilities.
Brainwash education
Education system that instills specific beliefs and values, often systematically enforced.
To make us the fools
Designed to make individuals with certain backgrounds appear inferior, uneducated, or backwards.
Hate is your reward for our love
Instead of gratitude or respect, those with ancestral ties to exploitation respond with hostility and bigotry towards those who contributed to their success.
Telling us of your God above
Justification for their negative behavior based on religious or moral grounds.
Here comes the conman
Describing an individual who practices deceit or fraud.
Coming with his con plan
Planning a scam or fraudulent activity.
We won't take no bribe
Refusal to accept a corrupt payment.
We've got to stay alive
Necessity of survival in trying circumstances.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Rita Anderson Marley, Vincent Ford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TestTest-ft9xh
"In this age of technological inhumanity
Scientific atrocity
Atomic misphilosophy
Nuclear misenergy
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity
We're the survivors, yeah!
We're the survivors!
Yes, the Black survivors!
We got to survive, y'all!"
Prophet Bob Marley
@TestTest-ft9xh
@@kaysluckysa1572 "In this age of technological inhumanity
Scientific atrocity
Atomic misphilosophy
Nuclear misenergy
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity
We're the survivors, yeah!
We're the survivors!
Yes, the Black survivors!
We got to survive, y'all!"
Prophet Bob Marley
@abdurrahmanyt0075
I'm leaving this comment here so after a month or a year when someone likes it, I get reminded of this song ❤️
@jordanosullivan123
What a beautiful comment ❤
@ma_lou1206
Everytime when it feels like losging I just hear that Song and I feel better❤
@ashleyfulton4792
Time to wake up and start your day !!!! ❤ now you have to remind me lol 😂😂😂😂😂😂!!! One ☝🏼 love ❤️
@ashleyfulton4792
Daily reminder 😂
@ashleyfulton4792
❤❤❤
@ebrimanereka3537
2024 who still listing ❤❤❤
@dejaymspencer2230
Me
@AroenMaharban-ht1je
Yah! Man yah rastafari❤❤❤
@irenelintott3424
Me