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
Selassie Is The Chapel
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Power of the Trinity (Trinity, Trinity is He)
Build your mind on this direction
Serve the living God and live (living God and live)
Take your troubles to Selassie
He is the only King of Kings (King of kings, King of kings is he)
Conquering Lion of Judah
I search and I search on book of Man
In the Revelation, look what I find
Haile Selassie is the Chapel
And the world should know (all should know, all should know)
That man is the Angel
Our God, the King of Kings
Bob Marley's song Selassie Is The Chapel is a tribute to Haile Selassie I, the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. The song is a celebration of Selassie's divine status as the King of Kings and the Conquering Lion of Judah. Marley urges his listeners to follow Selassie's teachings and to build their minds on the direction of the Holy Trinity.
The first verse of the song emphasizes the importance of serving the living God and seeking guidance from Selassie. Marley sings, "Take your troubles to Selassie, he is the only King of Kings." This line suggests that Selassie is more than just a political leader; he is a spiritual guide who can help people overcome their problems and find peace.
In the second verse, Marley quotes from the Book of Revelation and declares that Selassie is the Chapel. This line refers to Selassie's coronation ceremony, which took place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa. The song ends with the powerful assertion that "man is the Angel, our God, the King of Kings." This line reflects Marley's belief in the inherent divinity of all human beings and their ability to connect with the divine through their relationship with Selassie.
Overall, Selassie Is The Chapel is a deeply spiritual and uplifting song that pays tribute to one of the most important figures in Rastafari culture. The song encourages listeners to follow Selassie's teachings and to seek guidance from the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
Haile Selassie is the Chapel
Haile Selassie is a holy place that we should worship and respect
Power of the trinity (Trinity, Trinity is He)
Haile Selassie embodies the divine unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Build your mind on this direction
We should focus our thoughts on Haile Selassie and his teachings
Serve the living God and live (living God and live)
If we serve Haile Selassie, we will be rewarded with a fulfilling life
Take your troubles to Selassie
Haile Selassie is a powerful figure who can help us through difficult times
He is the only King of Kings (King of kings, King of kings is he)
Haile Selassie is not only a king, but the greatest of all kings
Conquering Lion of Judah
Haile Selassie is a powerful and brave leader who has overcome many obstacles
Triumphantly we all must sing (all must sing, all must sing)
We should celebrate Haile Selassie's greatness with song and praise
I search and I search on book of Man
The artist has searched many books to find wisdom
In the Revelation, look what I find
The artist has found an important revelation in the Bible
And the world should know (all should know, all should know)
It's important for everyone in the world to recognize Haile Selassie's greatness
That man is the Angel
Haile Selassie is an angelic figure who has been sent to guide us
Our God, the King of Kings
For the singer, Haile Selassie is not just a king, but a god-like figure who deserves our worship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB MARLEY, MORTIMER PLANNO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danielvillalobos8552
Haile Selassie is the chapel, power of the trinity.
Build your mind on this direction, serve the living god and live.
Take your troubles to Selassie, he's the only King of Kings. (say it now).
Conquering lion of Judah, triumphantly we all must sing. (yeah)
Well I search and I search, oh Book of Man.
In Revelations, look what I find.
Haile Selassie is the chapel, Yes all the world should know.
That man is the angel, and our God the King if Kings. (let me tell ya)
I and I search, I and I search. In this great Book of Life
and in Revelations, see what I've found.
Haile Selassie is the chapel, he's the only King of Kings.
Conquering Lion of Judah, triumphantly we all must sing and sing and sing. (yeah)
We I've searched and I've searched, this great Book of Life.
In the Revelations, look what I've found.
Haile Selassie is the chapel, power of the trinity.
Build your mind in this direction, serve the living god and Live.
Conquering Lion of Judah (yeah). triumphantly we all must sing and sing and sing.
Lion of Judah, Judah, Judah, . We all must sing.
Conquering Lion of Judah, Judah, Judah. We all must sing.
Conquering Lion...
@CraigAdedeji
There’s no way you’ll watch the ONE LOVE movie and not come search for this song ❤❤❤
@degto2
An interesting movie i must say
@djhustler2361
Who else thinks Stephen has the most similar voice to his Dad among Marley's children ?
@alisonpeters6544
yes i think so too
@lyte4240
Ziggy does in my opinion.
@FootballFanLeanne
I actually think Ky-mani sounds most like his dad.
@Lavern7507
I agree kymani does sound like his father@FootballFanLeanne
@GodisformewhoShallBeAgainst
This song kept me sain much respect
@Reggaegal11
This had me bawling my eyes out at the One Love movie
@brownskin4659
Like father like son......much love from the ithiopia 💚💛❤