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
Stiff Naked Fools
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To deny me for simplicity.
Yes, you have gone for so long
With your love for vanity now.
Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation
Mixed up with vain imagination.
So take Jah Sun, and Jah Moon,
And forever, yes, erase your fantasy, yea-eah!
The lips of the righteous teach many,
But fools die for want of wisdom.
The rich man's wealth is in his city;
The righteous' wealth is in his Holy Place.
So take Jah Sun, and Jah Moon,
And Jah Rain, and Jah Stars,
And forever, yes, erase your fantasy, yeah!
Destruction of the poor is in their poverty;
Destruction of the soul is vanity, yeah!
So stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
To deny me for simplicity, yea-ea-eah!
Yes, you have gone - gone for so long
With your love for vanity now.
But I don't want to rule ya!
I don't want to fool ya!
I don't want to school ya:
Things you - you might never know about!
Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation
Mixed up with vain - vain imagination:
Stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
To deny me for, o-ooh, simplicity.
The song Stiff Necked Town by Bob Marley is a call to action against the vanity and distorted interpretation of spiritual teachings. Marley refers to these individuals as "stiff-necked fools" who have a love for vain things and have taken the wrong message from the teachings of Jah. He urges them to erase their fantasies and purify their understanding of spirituality. Marley reminds the listeners that the lips of the righteous teach many, and one must seek wisdom to avoid being a foolish person.
Marley compares the wealth of the rich to that of the righteous. The former is only present in the material world, whereas the latter is in the Holy Place. He highlights how the destruction of the poor is linked to their poverty, and the destruction of the soul is a result of vanity. Marley asks the stiff-necked fools to look beyond their misunderstanding and choose simplicity. He mentions that he does not want to rule, fool, or school them, but instead, he wants them to seek knowledge and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
You prideful individuals believe that you're superior.
To deny me for simplicity.
You reject me because of my straightforward approach.
Yes, you have gone for so long
You've been doing this for a while now.
With your love for vanity now.
You're wrapped up in your frivolous desires.
Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation
You've misunderstood things entirely.
Mixed up with vain imagination.
You've let your empty fantasies interfere with the truth.
So take Jah Sun, and Jah Moon,
Consider the natural world around you.
And Jah Rain, and Jah Stars,
Think about everything that's encompassed in creation.
And forever, yes, erase your fantasy, yea-eah!
Abandon your delusions permanently.
The lips of the righteous teach many,
Those who do well can help others learn.
But fools die for want of wisdom.
Those who lack knowledge suffer the consequences.
The rich man's wealth is in his city;
Wealthy people gain their prosperity from their surroundings.
The righteous' wealth is in his Holy Place.
Good people's wealth comes from having faith in their beliefs.
Destruction of the poor is in their poverty;
The impoverished often have difficulties leading fulfilling lives.
Destruction of the soul is vanity, yeah!
Leading an empty, self-absorbed life brings ruin to the spirit.
But I don't want to rule ya!
I don't seek to dominate or control you.
I don't want to fool ya!
I'm not trying to deceive you.
I don't want to school ya:
I'm not trying to tell you what to do or how to be.
Things you - you might never know about!
There are some things you might not realize without some guidance.
Stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
Once again, you arrogant individuals think you're better than everyone else.
To deny me for, o-ooh, simplicity.
You reject me for being plain and honest.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexkodwiw2640
this song brings me to tears ad goose bumps each time! this was no insult to any race. bob was quoting
Proverbs 29 International Standard Version (ISV)
Advice on Life and Justice
1 After many rebukes, the stiff-necked man will be broken incurably, without any warning.
2 As the righteous grow powerful,[a] people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, people groan.
3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but anyone who consorts with immoral women squanders his wealth.
@lotusmountain6145
Wisdom for the ages!
@yahwehspiritualawakening9380
Very true
@francismarufu2299
@@yahwehspiritualawakening9380 Like he said , It's like that inner voice that tells you right from wrong. Choose your choices well my fellow people
@abasindi7410
@@yahwehspiritualawakening9380 love 💕 too 😂 lol
@private-doctor
Great Man
@mubihebyanyuma
All lyrics are from Bible Proverbs
@dianelenard3800
All those that gave a thumbs down are the One's he's talking about.."STIFFNECKED FOOLS!!
@jasoneksteen7447
True! 💥
And I wonder why they bother being on this platform if they gonna be hatin’ on Marley.
@mesgoodin2889
yes hey are...
@charleswilliamsjr2133
TRUE