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
My Sympathy
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What kind of love, they've got for me
I'm on my way to happiness
Where I can find some peace and rest
When I'm in my sorrows, yeah yeah yeah
It's only me, only me feels them pain, sad pains
Not one good word of advice
I just can't find no love, no sympathy, yeah
What kind of love, they've got for me
I'm on my way, yeah, to happiness
Where I can find some peace and rest
Hmm, might as well, might as well
I get out, I get out of hell
Because hell would never be made for me
So I'm gonna search, search 'till I'm free
No love at all, no sympathy
What kind of love, the people got for me
I'm on my way, my way to happiness
Where I can find some peace and rest
No love, no love and no sympathy
What kind, what kind of love, they've got for me, yeah
I'm on my way, on my way to happiness, happiness
Where I, I can find some peace and rest
No love, no sympathy
In "My Sympathy," Bob Marley expresses his feeling of being misunderstood and unloved. He feels he is alone in his struggles and that his friends are not giving him any support. He starts off the song by saying that he cannot find love or sympathy, and he wonders what kind of love his friends have for him. He wants to find happiness, peace, and rest, but he feels he cannot do that in his current situation. When he is feeling sad and facing difficulties, he is the only one who feels the pain. He has not received any good advice from his so-called friends, and he believes that he is not getting the support that he deserves.
Marley suggests that he is on a journey to find peace and rest. He feels that his current situation is like hell and that he needs to search until he is free. He seems to be disappointed with the people around him and the lack of support he receives. He feels there is no love and no sympathy, and he questions what kind of love people have for him. Despite this, he keeps pushing forward, confident that he will find the happiness he seeks. The song suggests that sometimes one has to find strength from within and seek inner peace to find true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I just can't find no love, no sympathy
I can't seem to find anyone who cares about me and my feelings.
What kind of love, they've got for me
I'm questioning the quality of the love that others have shown me.
I'm on my way to happiness
I'm trying to find a path towards a life with more joy.
Where I can find some peace and rest
I'm seeking out an environment that is calm and comforting.
When I'm in my sorrows, yeah yeah yeah
When I'm feeling down and defeated,
It's only me, only me feels them pain, sad pains
I'm the only one who truly understands how much it hurts.
Not one good word of advice
My friends haven't given me any useful guidance.
From any of my so called friends
I don't consider the people around me to be true friends.
Hmm, might as well, might as well
I might as well take action.
I get out, I get out of hell
I need to escape from my current situation.
Because hell would never be made for me
I know that this environment is not suitable for my well-being.
So I'm gonna search, search 'till I'm free
I'm going to keep looking for a better situation until I find it.
No love at all, no sympathy
I feel completely alone and without support.
What kind of love, the people got for me
I'm questioning if anyone really cares about me.
No love, no love and no sympathy
I don't feel loved or understood by anyone.
Where I, I can find some peace and rest
I'm searching for an environment in which I can relax and feel at ease.
I'm on my way, on my way to happiness, happiness
I'm trying to move forward in my life towards joy and contentment.
Contributed by Skyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mario Cario
what a funky jam
Santiago Loaiza
this album is soooo good.
Dilan CafeHdez
NO MMS CARNAL, PINCHE ROLON TAN CHINGONAAAA!!!, GRANDE MI REY BOB MARLEY GRANDEEE!!
cheesandwichfactory
Sounds like 400 Years
jay oakes
🔥
Alb Per Nil
UNDERRATED ONE LOVE TO JAH NATION
Ziplok
Damian Marley hit me up lets work Bro! SALUTE to Bob Marley and Family!
El Rapaz
Good morning freedom!