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
Is This Love
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna love you, every day and every night
We'll be together, with a roof right over our heads
We'll share the shelter, of my single bed
We'll share the same room, yeah
For Jah provide the bread
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know now
I got to know, got to know, got to know now
I, I'm willing and able
So I throw my cards on your table
I wanna love you, I wanna
Love and treat, love and treat you right
I wanna love you every day and every night
We'll be together, yeah, with a roof right over our heads
We'll share the shelter, yeah, oh yeah, of my single bed
We'll share the same room, yeah
For Jah provides the bread
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Whoa, oh yes I know, yes I know, yes I know now
Oh yes I know, yes I know, yes I know now
I, I'm willing and able
So I throw my cards on your table
See, I wanna love ya, I wanna love and treat ya
Love and treat ya right
I wanna love you every day and every night
We'll be together, with a roof right over our heads
We'll share the shelter, of my single bed
We'll share the same room, yeah
Jah provides the bread
We'll share the shelter
Bob Marley's song "Is This Love" is a beautiful and heartwarming love song. The lyrics express the intense desire of the singer to love and cherish the object of his affection every moment of every day. He wants to be with her, share his space and his bed, and enjoy the simple things life has to offer. The mention of Jah, or God, highlights the singer's belief in a higher power that provides for their needs, be it a roof over their heads or bread on their table. The repeated refrain of "Is this love that I'm feeling?" emphasizes the singer's doubt about the authenticity of his emotions but also shows his sincerity in his feelings for the partner.
The lyrics of "Is This Love" portray an ordinary person's dream of finding love and sharing their life with someone they deeply care about. It also touches upon the idea of material possessions not mattering in the face of true love. The song reflects Bob Marley's natural talent for conveying genuine emotions through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna love you, and treat you right
I desire to love you in a respectful and honorable manner
I wanna love you, every day and every night
My love for you will not wane and I plan on cherishing you constantly
We'll be together, with a roof right over our heads
We will spend our lives together and I will provide a safe home for us
We'll share the shelter, of my single bed
I will warmly and lovingly share my bed with only you
We'll share the same room, yeah
We will sleep together in a mutually shared space
For Jah provide the bread
Our relationship will be blessed by God and we will have all that we need
Is this love, is this love, is this love
Am I truly experiencing the emotion of love or is it something else?
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Do my feelings truly represent love as it is defined?
I wanna know, wanna know, wanna know now
I am desperate to find the truth about my feelings
I got to know, got to know, got to know now
I must know the truth about how I feel
I, I'm willing and able
I am ready and capable of loving you fully
So I throw my cards on your table
I am making my intentions known and putting myself on the line for you
Whoa, oh yes I know, yes I know, yes I know now
I am certain of my feelings and I have no doubt about them
I wanna love you, I wanna love and treat you right
My goal is to show you care and affection that is worthy of your worth
See, I wanna love ya, I wanna love and treat ya
My heart is set on loving you in a way that is intentional and purposeful
Love and treat ya right
I will show you the respect and attention that you deserve
Jah provides the bread
We will have all that we need provided to us by God
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reggae Life
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Dylan Anderson
Ere me now
Leandro Siqueira
@Dylan Anderson 1994
Kyliannathan De sousa
1:20
Leon Duffault
Love my life
Bob recuerdaaaaaa ese hombre
Pero
Uno sin idioma
Bueno
Yo creo que tiene un poquito miedo
Reggae Album
"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires...but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively" - Bob Marley
Sharon Donnelly
Awesome. Thanking for sharing...
Dee
I will keep thought this forever.
Solomon cash
@Dee it's worthy
joseph amica
I love bob marley