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
Guava Jelly
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said I love you
Why won't you stop your cryin'? (cryin', cryin')
Dry your weeping eyes
You know that I love - I love - I love - I love you so,
Da-da-dam da-da-damsel
Here I am, me said,
Wid you guava jelly,
Da-da-dam da-da-damsel
(Here I stand) Wo now!
(Come rub it 'pon me belly) Wo, now!
(Wid you guava jelly) Wo, now!
I really, really - I really love you
Yes, I really, really love you, child
I say you should stop, stop your cryin'
Wipe - wipe your weeping eyes
Tell you how I'm gonna love
Love you from the bottom of my heart
(Damsel) Oh, damsel!
(Here I am) Wo, damsel!
(Come rub it 'pon me belly) Wo, damsel!
(Wid you guava jelly),
Da-da-dam da-da-damsel
(Here I stand) I can't explain,
(Come rub it) Though the fact still remain ('pon me belly)
I need your love (wid you guava jelly) so much
Come-a, come-a, come-a, damsel, oh darlin'
(Here I stand) Oh, damsel, baby
Me say (come rub it 'pon me) - me say (belly)
Me say (wid you guava jelly)
The lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers's song Guava Jelly are focused on a love story between two individuals. The first part of the song has the two declaring their mutual love for each other and pleading for the other to stop crying. They profess their love and assure each other that they're going to be loved from the bottom of their hearts. In the second part of the song, the singer is asking his lover to come closer to him as he wants her to touch his belly and rub it with guava jelly. The first part of the song depicts the passionate love between the two while the second part brings about a more sensual and intimate love.
Line by Line Meaning
You said you love me
The singer's partner has told him that they love him
I said I love you
The singer has reciprocated his partner's love
Why won't you stop your cryin'?
The singer's partner is crying for an unknown reason, which is making the singer sad
Dry your weeping eyes
The singer is asking his partner to stop crying and wipe their eyes
You know that I love - I love - I love - I love you so
The singer reaffirms his love for his partner
Da-da-dam da-da-damsel
A playful exclamation to his partner
Here I am, me said
The singer is announcing his presence
Come rub it 'pon me belly
The singer is asking his partner to rub his belly
Wid you guava jelly
The singer is suggesting that his partner use guava jelly during the belly rubbing
I really, really - I really love you
The singer reiterates how much he loves his partner
Yes, I really, really love you, child
The singer has a deep love for his partner
I say you should stop, stop your cryin'
The singer is asking his partner to stop crying
Wipe - wipe your weeping eyes
The singer is instructing his partner to wipe their eyes
Tell you how I'm gonna love
The singer is promising to love his partner in a certain way
Love you from the bottom of my heart
The singer loves his partner deeply
Damsel
A term of endearment for his partner
Oh, damsel!
An exclamation of adoration towards his partner
Though the fact still remain ('pon me belly)
Regardless of the situation, the singer still wants his belly rubbed
I need your love (wid you guava jelly) so much
The singer is expressing his need for his partner's love and the use of guava jelly
Come-a, come-a, come-a, damsel, oh darlin'
The singer is calling for his partner to come to him and calling them darling
Me say (come rub it 'pon me) - me say (belly)
Me say (wid you guava jelly)
The singer is repeating his request for his partner to rub his belly with guava jelly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY, B MARLEY, C NELSON, FITZ COTTEREL, OSCAR BARRINGTON O'HARE, S STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leisaamore7951
I remember buying this Album Set in Downtown Manhattan, in the early 1990s. One of my most prized possessions. And Guava Jelly is one of my favorites, on the first CD. BIG CHUNE. BRAP BRAP BRAP.
@elywananda
Same here (from London though). This is probably the greatest compilation album ever.
@jtclark877
Same, from Mississippi.
@fabriciobastos6984
Essa música é de arrepiar
@charliethurman5960
Bob Marley music is mesmerizing
@daviddunnington3518
Love this song ❤️
@mattpack8964
love this song bob was and still is so inspirational keep on grooving guys :)
@dovanscha
prefeito
Você escuta e a alma dança
@kwameWhittaker
Bob could sing anything and it would sound good!!
@fabriciobastos6984
Bob marley é top