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
Easy Skanking
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Easy skanking, skanking it slow
Easy skanking, skanking it easy
Easy skanking, skanking it slow
Excuse me while I light my spliff (spliff)
Good God I gotta' take a lift (lift)
From reality I just can't drift (drift)
Take it easy, easy skanking
Got to take it easy, easy skanking
Take it easy, easy skanking
Got to take it easy, easy skanking
See we're taking it easy
We're taking it slow
We're taking it easy
Got to take it slow,
So take it easy, easy skanking,
Take it easy, easy skanking
Take it easy skanking
Take it easy shanking
Excuse me while I light my spliff
Oh God I gotta take a lift
From reality I just can't drift
That's why I'm staying with this riff
Take it easy, taking it easy
Got to take it easy, taking it slow
Take it easy, taking it easy
Skanking take it easy, taking it slow
Tell you what, herb for my wine
Honey for my strong drink
Herb for my wine, honey for my strong drink
I'll take it easy, taking it easy
Skankers take it easy, skanking it slow
Take, it easy, taking it easy
Take it easy, skanking it slow
Take it easy, skanking it easy
Oh oh, skanking it slow
A little bit easier, taking it easy
Skanky take it easy, skanking it slow
Take it easy, take it easy, take it easy, take it easy
The lyrics of Bob Marley & the Wailers' song, Easy Skanking, present a relaxed and care-free approach to life. The opening lines allude to the reggae music genre's unique style of dancing, skanking. The lyrics advise listeners to take things easy and slow, suggesting a relaxed lifestyle without any rush or haste. Bob Marley also suggests using marijuana to escape from the real world's harshness and stay in tune with the music.
The euphoric tone of the lyrics urges the audience to let go of their worries and simply enjoy the moment. Bob Marley wants everyone to live a carefree life, without being bogged down by stress or anxiety. He promotes the herbal drink and suggests mindfulness through the lyrics "honey for my strong drink, herb for my wine," suggesting a perfect balance between relaxation and alertness. Throughout the song, the lyrics emphasize the idea of taking things easy, laying back, and enjoying life.
Overall, Easy Skanking is a song that encourages people to take a break from the challenges of daily life and enjoy some peace of mind. The use of musical imagery, particularly the reggae rhythm, in the lyrics, helps reinforce the song's message of letting go and feeling at ease.
Line by Line Meaning
Easy skanking, skanking it easy
Let's make this easy and just take things slow
Excuse me while I light my spliff (spliff)
Pardon me while I smoke this joint
Good God I gotta' take a lift (lift)
Wow, I need to feel good and escape reality
From reality I just can't drift (drift)
I can't seem to escape the harshness of life
That's why I am staying with this riff (riff)
So I'm sticking with what's working – this smooth and mellow music
See we're taking it easy
We're making a conscious effort to relax and enjoy life
So take it easy, easy skanking
Let's keep living life and enjoying music in a stress-free way
Tell you what, herb for my wine
I prefer some marijuana to pair with my alcoholic beverage
Honey for my strong drink
I like to sweeten up my hard liquor with some honey
I'll take it easy, taking it easy
I'm gonna keep chilling out and taking it slow
Skankers take it easy, skanking it slow
Let's all relax and enjoy this music together
A little bit easier, taking it easy
Let's wind down and slow things down even more
Skanky take it easy, skanking it slow
I'm feeling mellow and I hope you guys are too
Take it easy, take it easy, take it easy, take it easy
Let's not forget to keep ourselves relaxed and not let the stresses of the world weigh us down
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reggae Life
Head over to Spotify & follow our Roots Reggae playlist! 🇯🇲 - https://ffm.to/rootsreggae
Gianni Ca$htro & A Ca$htroknot Flick
This comment should have more likes….. Apple doesn’t even have this. We should be more grateful. 🐅
MACCUARTA
My best friend lost his life with 5 others on a fishing boat on his 18th birthday of the north coast of Ireland on 15/11/95 - this was his favorite tune. such a cool guy - miss you Bernard. Never found but never forgotten.
REPLAYERS
Rip bernard and the others hopefully you are all reunited in the kingdom of heaven one day
Michael Schwitz
Prayers 🙏
SmiWild
R.I.P that touched
SmiWild
😢🙏🏿♥️
As I AM
I’ll never get tired of bob Marley music ❤
Dawson Houser
this song just instantly took me from the worst mood ever to smiling uncontrollibly thank you bob marley!!
DIggy Dodges
🤙🏾✌🏾