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
Stay With Me
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Beggin' you please)
Beggin' you please
Stay with me
Stay with me
Have I done you so wrong girl
Won't you stay with me
I pray each night
(With tears in eyes)
With tears in eyes
I pray this time I can keep something good
And if my prayers are answered
We'll be happy like we should
You can stop your tears from fallin'
Can't you hear my heart a callin' you stay
Why should lovers' quarrel and a bicker
Why let foolish pride stand in our way, oooh
(Down on my knees)
Down on my knees
(Beggin' you please)
Beggin' you please
You can stop your tears from fallin'
Can't you hear my heart a callin' you stay
Why should lovers' quarrel and a bicker
Why let foolish pride stand in our way, ooh oh
(Down on my knees)
Down on my knees
(Beggin' you please)
Beggin' you please
In this song, Bob Marley sings to a girl, begging her to stay with him. He admits to having possibly done wrong by her but implores her to forgive him and stay. He prays each night for the chance to keep something good and make their relationship work. He urges her to stop crying and to hear his heart calling for her to stay. He questions why lovers quarrel and let pride stand in the way of their happiness.
Marley's lyrics in "Stay With Me" are a plea to a lover for forgiveness, a chance to make things right, and for the relationship to continue. The song touches on the universal theme of pride creating obstacles in relationships, and emphasizes the importance of communication and forgiveness to overcome these obstacles.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was a cover of a 1963 soul hit by Lorraine Ellison, which was also titled "Stay With Me". Marley and the Wailers recorded "Stay With Me" in 1967, but the song wasn't released until 1978 on the album "Babylon by Bus". The 11-minute live version of the song on the album was recorded during the band's 1978 tour.
Another interesting fact is that "Stay With Me" is not a typical reggae song. The song has more of a soulful feel with its use of horns and backup singers, which was typical of the music Marley was exposed to in his youth growing up in Jamaica.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on my knees
I am at your mercy, humbly asking for your forgiveness and understanding.
(Beggin' you please)
I am imploring you, urgently requesting your presence and commitment.
Beggin' you please
I am humbly pleading with you to stay by my side and not leave me.
Stay with me
I'm asking you to be my partner and to persevere through whatever life throws at us.
Have I done you so wrong girl
I want to understand if I have hurt you in any way, shape, or form.
Won't you stay with me
I'm asking you to stay with me through thick and thin, to support me in every circumstance.
(I prayed each night)
Every night, I spend time in reflection, hoping and praying that our relationship will last.
I pray this time I can keep something good
I wish to hold onto our love, to make it last and not let it slip away like before.
And if my prayers are answered
If my hopes and dreams come true, and we stay together, we'll be happy like we were meant to be.
We'll be happy like we should
Our love has the potential to make us happy, and if we stay together, we can live our dreams.
You can stop your tears from fallin'
I want to be there for you, to wipe away the tears, and provide a shoulder to cry on.
Can't you hear my heart a callin' you stay
My heart is calling out for you, begging for you to remain with me on this lifelong journey.
Why should lovers' quarrel and a bicker
Why should we fight and fuss when we could be enjoying life together?
Why let foolish pride stand in our way, oooh
We shouldn't let our pride get in the way of our love and happiness, as it's never worth it.
(Down on my knees)
I am pleading with you, hoping you'll understand and stay with me.
(Beggin' you please)
I am imploring you, once again, to please remain by my side and not abandon our relationship.
Down on my knees
I am humbly asking for your forgiveness and understanding, bowing down to your wishes.
Beggin' you please
I am supplicating with you, begging you to not leave me and support me in every aspect of our lives.
Contributed by Brody W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
follow the sapper
I wish more people would see there is so much more to the phenomenon of bob marley, he’s more than just marijuana and one love
pennypay1
Underplayed and lovely. Early Marley is some of the finest Marley.
Бобби Глюк
Хорошая добрая песня.Боб Марли (1945-1981) вечная память
Joandre Junior
Nice ......Rasta
fyah kush
you can't stop these tears from falling🎶
rich Mck
we used to sing like this back in the day at church in Jamaica and England. Little did the preacher realize it. Same riddim section. Spiritual music,,yes indeed.
Leda Sampaio
Meu nome Completo Diogo Sampaio apelido Reggaeman Rádio Reggae Jah Rei do Rádio Reggae Bob Marley 1972 Bom de mais
Kokofyah
🙏
isaac pedroso
The best arstis un thé World thé only one
jonathan robinson
Stay with me Jonathan