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
Mega Dog
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn 'round bite you
And if you jump out a frying pan, ya bound, to drop in a fire
You jump out a frying pan, ya bound, to drop in a fire
When I was with you, you was big and fat
Now you look like wet daddy's rat
Can't go on and find a good man
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn round bite you
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn round bite you
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn 'round bite you
And if you jump in maga dog, maga dog, turn 'round bite you
And if you jump out a frying pan, you're bound to drop in a fire
And if you jump out a frying pan, you're bound to drop in a fire
When I was with you, you was big and fat
Now you look like wet daddy's rat
Gal, I beg you let go my heart
Can't go on and find a good man, he say
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn round bite you
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn round bite you
The lyrics to Bob Marley's "Mega Dog" song are a cautionary tale about being careful who you trust and getting involved with someone who is not good for you in the long run. The song is about a woman who was once beautiful and charming, but has since transformed into a "maga dog" – a thin and scrappy creature who will turn on you in an instant. Marley warns the listener that if you get too close to a "maga dog," you will eventually get bitten.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of jumping from one bad situation to another. Marley paints the picture of someone who jumps out of a frying pan – presumably a bad or dangerous situation – only to land in a fire, or another equally harmful environment. The repeated chorus of "Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn 'round bite you" serves as a reminder that we should be cautious and mindful of the company we keep.
Overall, "Mega Dog" is a song about being smart and aware of our surroundings, and making sure that we don't get caught up with people or situations that will ultimately bring us down.
Line by Line Meaning
Sorry fe maga dog, maga dog, turn 'round bite you
Being around untrustworthy people, especially those who are thin and weak, can lead to them turning on you when you least expect it
And if you jump out a frying pan, ya bound, to drop in a fire
Sometimes the solution to one problem can lead to another equally dangerous problem
When I was with you, you was big and fat
In the past, the person being referred to was doing well and had a healthy life
Now you look like wet daddy's rat
Now the person being referred to is unhealthy and maybe addicted to harmful things
Gal, I beg you let go my heart
The singer wants the person referred to as 'gal' to stop causing him pain and heartache
Can't go on and find a good man
The singer is having trouble finding a good and trustworthy partner
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@communityrags6048
How spine-tingling it would sound whenever they get round to digitally remastering that!
@williamharrison2528
Love the vintage sound of this. Not sure I want it remastered.
@SkinWalker-wc3sf
I love bob marley❤😭
@SkinWalker-wc3sf
Ima make a movie tribute from him
@christisgodd
3 prophets of jah.Bob Peter and bunny
@ningunores9100
And Junior Braithwaite.
@metalsmithjewelergeorgie4769
Bring ska back 🎼
@TheZarahfussy
awesome. thank you. been looking for this version for FOREVER
@KwakuAmaniampongKyerefo
🦁🦁🦁✊🏿✊🏿😂😂😂❤️❤️
@papagreenemusic
When this record was made, the group was called simply The Wailers, so the graphic shown is one that must have been made later, after they changed the name in the mid-1970's.
This is Peter Tosh's song, & it is he, not Marley, who sings lead on the track.