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
Dracula
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old vampires
Like to see youth suffer
A vampire
Only trod upon creation
Unno set of vampires
(Mid)night, and now humble when it's daylight
Oh
Old vampires
Only like to see blood running
Make sure you know it's fire burning
(Fire bun, fire bun)
Unno old vampires
Only
Unno old vampires
Set of vampires
(Crea)tion
You fight against everything good for the younger generation
You bloody meditation
Unno set of vampires
Vampires
Doing wickedness at midnight
And...
Fire bun !
Unno old vampires
Unno old vampires
Unno old vampires
Outequity worker (Vampire)
Unno old vampires
Unno old vampires
(Vampire)
(Vampire)
In Bob Marley's song Dracula, he creates a metaphor for the older generation as a vampire that preys on and seeks pleasure in the suffering of the younger generation. The metaphor is depicted through lyrics like "Old vampires/Like to see youth suffer/A vampire/Only trod upon creation." Marley seems to suggest that older individuals hold power over the younger ones, and use that power to manipulate and control them for their own needs.
Moreover, the lyrics "You fight against everything good for the younger generation" highlights the idea that the older generation works against progress and change for the betterment of the younger generation. As the song progresses, Marley uses the phrase "fire bun" as a chant to signify that the younger generation will eventually rise and take control, burning the older generation out of power.
Overall, Bob Marley's song Dracula is a call for younger generations to rise up against the oppressive authority of the older generation. He urges the younger generation to take action and make changes to create a better future for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Slay, vampire
Defeat the vampire
Old vampires
Experienced vampires
Like to see youth suffer
Enjoy watching young people in pain
A vampire
One individual vampire
Only trod upon creation
Only destroys everything around
Unno set of vampires
A group of vampires
The younger generation
The new upcoming age group
(Mid)night, and now humble when it's daylight
Vampires are only active at night but stay dormant during the day
Oh
Interjection
Only like to see blood running
Prefer to see others bleed
Make sure you know it's fire burning
Burns like fire - beware!
(Fire bun, fire bun)
Refrain or interjection
Unno old vampires
A group of experienced vampires
Only
Just like
Creation
The world
You fight against everything good for the younger generation
Oppose anything that is beneficial for the future generation
You bloody meditation
You are an evil thought
Vampires
Individual bloodsuckers
Doing wickedness at midnight
Committing sins during the night
And...
Continuation of a thought
Fire bun !
Interjection
Outequity worker (Vampire)
A vampire who enjoys working against good deeds
(Vampire)
Repetition for emphasis
Unno old vampires
A group of experienced vampires
Unno old vampires
A group of experienced vampires
(Vampire)
Repetition for emphasis
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY, GLENN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ilcame2
My favourite, absolutely!!
@nothingnothing2886
🙌🏼💗🙏🏼✌🇪🇹 #onelove #peacenotwar #Godblesseveryone Thank you for taking your time to share and post this! #Godsblessingsandprayers onto each and everyone 🌍🌎🌏
@krystalharwood2300
i cannot help but think of Ed Gathegi when i hear this!
@HuntedHuntsmen
Reagge music an Halloween is one hell of mix ❤️
@LatinSith
Imagine Dracula with dreadlocks.
@krystalharwood6359
that one guy in twilight...no not edward
@camoknabel
C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER
@billyrovedas3221
This one is called The Vampire ROOTS
@kaimarmalade9660
Percentage of us tow the line; the rest of us it's out of reach. Everybody party time. Some of us will never sleep again.
@erosborlotti2916
This are a song of The Upsetter , A Bob Marley version who's called Mr.Brown....