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
Keep on Moving
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, I've got to get on down
Lord, I've got to keep on moving
Where I can't be found
Lord, they're coming after me
I've been accused for the killin'
Lord knows I didn't do
And that's why I've got to get on through
Lord, they're coming after me (a-one more time)
Lord, I've got to keep on moving
Lord, I've got to get on down
Lord, I've got to keep on moving
Where I can't be found
Lord, they're coming after me
(Now, listen) I've got two boys and a woman
They're just gonna suffer now
Lord, forgive me for not goin' back
But I'll be there anyhow
I'll be there anyhow (one more time)
(I say) Lord, I've got to keep on moving
Lord, I've got to get on down
Lord, I've got to keep on moving
Where I can't be found
Lord, they're coming after me
Now, maybe someday I'll find a piece of land
Somewhere not by near anyone
Then I'll send for my love, love, love, love, sweet woman
And my two grown-up son
My two grown up-son (yeah, yeah, yeah)
(I say now) Lord I've got to keep on moving
In Bob Marley's song "Keep On Moving," the singer expresses a sense of urgency to keep moving and avoid being found. He claims to have been falsely accused of a killing and notes that he is being pursued for it. Despite being willing to face the consequences, he has two boys and a woman to think about who will suffer if he is caught. The singer's desire to escape and find a peaceful space is evident in the lyrics, where he talks about wanting to find a land far away where he can send for his "sweet woman" and two "grown-up sons."
The song has a simple message of survival in the face of imminent danger. The singer cannot stay in one place since the authorities are after him. Therefore, he has to keep moving to stay alive. It also highlights the consequences of false accusations and the toll they can have on someone's life. The theme of love and family is also present in the song, with the singer willing to sacrifice his freedom to protect his family from suffering. The lyrics are open to interpretation as they offer a universal message of resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, I've got to keep on moving
I must keep going and not stop in one place for too long
Lord, I've got to get on down
I need to move forward and leave my current situation behind
Lord, I've got to keep on moving
I have to keep moving to stay out of sight and protect myself
Where I can't be found
I need to go somewhere where no one can locate me
Lord, they're coming after me
Someone is chasing me and wants to harm me
I've been accused for the killin'
I have been blamed for someone's death, but I am innocent
Lord knows I didn't do
I swear to God that I did not commit any crime
For hangin' me, they are willin', yeah, yeah
They are eager to execute me even though I am not guilty
And that's why I've got to get on through
I must keep moving to avoid being captured and punished unfairly
I've got two boys and a woman
I have a family who will suffer if I get caught or killed
They're just gonna suffer now
My loved ones will face hardship and pain because of my predicament
Lord, forgive me for not goin' back
God, please pardon me for not returning to face a false accusation
But I'll be there anyhow
I will support and take care of my family even if I am not physically present
Now, maybe someday I'll find a piece of land
Perhaps one day, I will discover a safe and peaceful place to settle down
Somewhere not by near anyone
A location far away from other people where I can live without fear of being caught
Then I'll send for my love, love, love, love, sweet woman
When I find that place, I will summon my beloved partner to join me
And my two grown-up son
My adult sons will be reunited with me in this place of refuge
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@claudiov3993
Positive vibration to defeat the demons. They cannot win. We are warriors of light💪✌. Fear will not posses us.
@Stance._
Let's get some amens in the chat. Amen 🙏
@matt25675
CONSTANTLY LEARNING amen
@OriginalCouber
@tera baap "smoking weed and ganja" we can all agree this guy knows what he's talking about.
@michaelherrera696
@tera baap a foolish dog bark at the flying birds, let the positivity marinate in your soul
@fernandosanz7326
Claudio V yes sirrrrrrr!!!!
@atmanp3380
Bob has literally gotten me through the most depressing hopeless times of my life. He will forever be a beacon of hope for me and the truth of freedom. Whether I obtain it here in this realm or in another
@flynncremin6347
The irony; he lived at 56 HOPE road
@leoniteark6309
@tera baap why you think so??
@mystalegacy
Namaste to yu king/queen ✌🏻❤ Namaste.