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
Rastaman Chant
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
Said I hear the words of the Iyaman say
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
"Babylon throne gone down, gone down
Babylon throne gone down"
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home)
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home)
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
Say one bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
The opening lines of "Rastaman Chant" speak to the collective desire of people who have been oppressed, persecuted or seen their culture erased, to witness the fall of Babylon. Babylon is a metaphor for the forces of oppression and corruption that have usurped power, committed atrocities and eroded the natural order of the world. The Rastaman's words signal that Babylon's reign of terror is over and that its throne has fallen.
The Rastafarian movement that Bob Marley was a part of saw Babylon as the embodiment of the evils of the modern world, including greed, violence, and inequality. The lyrics reflect the belief that the struggle against Babylon is ongoing and that change will come eventually. The focus on Zion, the Biblical promised land, as a place of return and liberation, reinforces the central tenets of Rastafarianism.
The repetition of the phrase "Babylon throne gone down" and the exhortation to "fly away home to Zion" create a sense of urgency and hopefulness. The final verse suggests that the struggle against Babylon will result in a brighter future, where the oppressed will be free and able to return to their rightful place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the words of the Rastaman say
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
Listen to the message of the Rastafarian leader who proclaims the downfall of the oppressive system known as Babylon.
Said I hear the words of the Iyaman say
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
I personally am also hearing the words of this spiritual leader who echoes the same message of Babylon's imminent collapse.
And I hear the angel with the seven seals say
"Babylon throne gone down, gone down
Babylon throne gone down"
Furthermore, I am also receiving a divine revelation, represented by an angel with seven seals, announcing the end of Babylon's reign.
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home)
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home)
In response to Babylon's fall, I urge my fellow believers to return to their spiritual homeland of Zion, where they will find safety and freedom.
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
Alluding to the afterlife, I express my belief that one day, when our earthly toil is complete, we will ascend to our ultimate home.
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
This hopeful sentiment is repeated to emphasize its importance and inspire listeners to persevere through their struggles on Earth.
Say one bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
Once again, I assert my conviction that our ultimate destiny lies beyond this world and that the hardships we endure will one day be left behind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nazım Yılmaz
on No Woman No Cry
el hombre de mundo
JANGLA WISE
on Three Little Birds
Give thanks and Praise's
Juan Carlos Garcia
on Stir It Up
muy buena musica
Shaft Abdou
on One Love
on love
Felix CM
on Ganjah Gun
:)
Felix CM
on Stir It Up
ganjah gan
Assamoi Junior
on One Love
One love Bob marley
Assamoi Junior
on Waiting In Vain
Cool man
Faisal Alowais
on Stir It Up
best song owwwwwwwwwwwwwwww owy
Ca Sperez
on Stir It Up
muy buena rola