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
Rock Steady
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
When first I heard rocksteady
Thrilled me to the bone
You need a baby for your own
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
Talk about the cha-cha
Talk about the mambo
When I talk about rocking steady
You better be ready
To rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
When first I heard rocksteady
Thrilled me to the bone
When I talk about rocking steady
You need a baby for your own
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy
Rockstead-easy
Steady rock easy, you're doing good
Rockstead-easy, just like you should
Steady rock easy, you're looking fine...
The lyrics to Bob Marley's song "Rock Steady" are an ode to the Jamaican music style that originated in the 1960s. The repetition of "Steady rock easy" and "Rockstead-easy" creates an infectious rhythm that is central to the genre. The song starts with the singer expressing their love for rocksteady and how it "thrilled me to the bone" when they first heard it. The singer then urges the listener to have their own experience with the music by saying "you need a baby for your own." This might refer to the idea that the music is so good that you need to share it with someone else.
The chorus encourages the listener to get ready to dance by referencing other dance styles such as the cha-cha and the mambo. The repetition of "Rockstead-easy, Steady rock easy" creates a feeling of ease and comfort, highlighting the genre's laid-back vibe. The song ends with the singer praising the listener's dance moves and appearance.
Overall, "Rock Steady" celebrates the genre of rocksteady music, which was created in Jamaica in the mid-1960s as a fusion of ska, rhythm and blues, and jazz. The genre got its name from the slower tempo and steadier beat compared to ska. The song encourages listeners to embrace the style and let loose on the dance floor.
Line by Line Meaning
Steady rock easy
Remain calm and composed while rocking to the beat
Rockstead-easy
Same as above
When first I heard rocksteady, Thrilled me to the bone
The first time I heard rocksteady music, it deeply moved me
When I talk about rocking steady, You need a baby for your own
When I refer to rocking steady, I mean it is something you must experience for yourself to fully appreciate
Talk about the cha-cha, Talk about the mambo
I could talk about other types of music and dance, but none compare to rocksteady
You better be ready
Get prepared for the experience of your life
Rockstead-easy, steady rock easy, you're doing good, Just like you should
Keep rocking steady, you are doing a great job and doing it the right way
Steady rock easy, you're looking fine
While rocking steady, you look great and are enjoying the music to its fullest extent
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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