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
Dreamland
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So far across the sea (repeat)
To have you all, my dreamland
Would be like heaven to me (repeat)
We'll get our breakfast from the tree
We'll get our honey from the bees
We'll take a ride on the waterfalls
And all the glories, we'll have them all
And we'll live together on that dreamland
And have so much fun (repeat)
Oh, what a time that will be
Oh yes, we'll wait, wait, wait and see
We'll count the stars up in the sky...
...And surely we'll never die
The lyrics of Bob Marley's song "Dreamland" describes a place that he has heard about, which is far across the sea. He longs to have his dreamland where life is heavenly. In this place, there are fruit trees where they can get their breakfast from and honey that they can collect from the bees. The dreamland also has waterfalls where they can take a ride and enjoy all the glories that it has to offer. Bob Marley dreams of living with his loved ones on this dreamland and having lots of fun. He looks forward to a time when he will count the stars with his loved ones and never die.
The song Dreamland is a delightful song, which is characteristic of Bob Marley's style. It is reflective of his Rastafarian beliefs and speaks of a utopian world where there is no pain, oppression or suffering. The lyrics are accompanied by the reggae rhythms that Bob Marley is famous for, which blends with the lyrics and makes the song even more memorable. The song speaks to the human desire to find a peaceful and harmonious world where one can be free from the worries of life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a land that I have heard about
I have heard about a mythical place
So far across the sea
This mythical place is very far away
To have you all, my dreamland
If I had this place, it would be like heaven
Would be like heaven to me
It would bring immense joy and happiness
We'll get our breakfast from the tree
There is an abundance of fruit in this place
We'll get our honey from the bees
Nature provides in this place
We'll take a ride on the waterfalls
This place has streams and waterfalls for adventure
And all the glories, we'll have them all
All the beautiful things in this place are open for us to enjoy
And we'll live together on that dreamland
We can all stay together in this place
And have so much fun
We can amuse ourselves and never run out of activities
Oh, what a time that will be
It will be a wonderful experience
Oh yes, we'll wait, wait, wait and see
We are willing to wait and see how it pans out
We'll count the stars up in the sky...
There is opportunity for star-gazing in this place
...And surely we'll never die
The experience is so heavenly that we will feel immortal
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neville Livingston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@suckOnThese3
Immediately I thought of this song. One of the few songs that Marley took the back seat to Bunny and Tosh. RIP MON.
@moragmacgregor6792
I've been looking for this song for decades. I almost believed it didn't exist. TY for posting.
@forevergoldentarot
Very much a dreamy song that feels ethereal
@MrFyABurn
Yes, this is bunny wailer, jah B the rasta with bob and peter in backing vocals!!!!
@herveclement7105
very Nice song...harmonies already here !
one love !!!
@cathykotula7155
RIP Bunny Wailer, enjoy Dreamland 🙏🌈
@kayadoobie9277
RIP bunny. We are all thinking about you in dreamland.
@eazygamebred7980
rip
@billyrovedas5687
Back ground vocals are excellent and music is tremendous.... Play On Mr. Muzik...
@gillakz6474
It's Bunny Wailer..and this is a wonderful song 🤩