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
Roots Rock Reggae /Unreleased Single Mix
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Play I some music, (dis a) reggae music
Roots, rock, reggae, dis a reggae music
Roots, rock, reggae, dis a reggae music
Hey, mister music, sure sounds good to me
I can't refuse it, what to be got to be
Feel like dancing, dance 'cause we are free
Roots, rock, reggae, dis a reggae music
Roots, rock, reggae, yeah, dis a reggae music
Play I some music, dis a reggae music
Play I some music, dis a reggae music
Play I on the R and B, wo-oh, want all my people to see
We're bubblin' on the Top 100, just like a mighty dread
Play I on the R and B, want all my people to see
We bubblin' on the top one hundred, just like a mighty dread
Roots, rock, reggae, dis a reggae music, uh-uh
Roots, rock, reggae, ee-mi duba, dis a reggae music
Play I some music (dis a reggae music)
Play I some music (dis a reggae music)
(Dis a reggae music)
(Dis a reggae music)
Play I on the R and B, I want all my people to see (doo-doo-doo-doo)
We bubblin' on the Top 100 just like a mighty dread
(Doo, doo, doo, doo)
Play I some music (dis a) reggae music
Play I some music (dis a) reggae music
(Dis a reggae music)
(Dis a reggae music)
The song "Roots Rock Reggae" is a powerful and uplifting anthem to the reggae music genre. The lyrics convey an invitation to embrace the roots of reggae, with the repetitive refrain of "Roots, rock, reggae, this a reggae music" serving as a reminder of the genre's African and Caribbean origins. The song also celebrates the freedom that comes from dancing to reggae music, with the repetition of "Feel like dancing, come dance with me" inviting listeners to let go and move to the rhythm.
The song begins with the declaration to "play I some music, dis a reggae music," with the use of "I" instead of "me" likely reflecting the Jamaican patois spoken by Bob Marley and Steven Tyler. The references to "R and B" and "Top 100" also suggest a desire to bring reggae to a wider audience and establish it as a mainstream genre.
Overall, "Roots Rock Reggae" is a celebration of the history, heritage, and power of reggae music, with its upbeat tempo and catchy refrain inviting listeners to join in and embrace the joy and freedom that comes with the rhythms of the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Play I some music, (dis a) reggae music
Let me hear some reggae music
Roots, rock, reggae, dis a reggae music
This is reggae music with roots and rock influence
Hey, mister music, sure sounds good to me
Music sounds great to me
I can't refuse it, what to be got to be
I can't resist it, what will be, will be
Feel like dancing, dance 'cause we are free
I want to dance because we are free
Play I on the R and B, wo-oh, want all my people to see
Let's play on R and B for everyone to hear
We're bubblin' on the Top 100, just like a mighty dread
We're rising up the charts like a powerful force
Roots, rock, reggae, yeah, dis a reggae music
This is reggae music influenced by rock and roots
Play I some music, dis a reggae music
Please play some reggae music
(Dis a reggae music)
This is reggae music
Play I on the R and B, want all my people to see
Let's play on R and B for everyone to hear
We bubblin' on the top one hundred, just like a mighty dread
We're rising up the charts like a powerful force
Roots, rock, reggae, dis a reggae music, uh-uh
This is reggae music with roots and rock influence
Roots, rock, reggae, ee-mi duba, dis a reggae music
This is reggae music with roots and rock influence and some added dub sound
Play I some music (dis a reggae music)
Please play some reggae music
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: VINCENT FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kyle Wakeling
This is amazing.