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
The Oppressed Song
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But with all he possesses self preservation comes first
His damnation comes not from burning free
As destruction of the poor is their poverty, is their poverty
While oppression is the poor man's choice
Ah, but in this he does rejoice
His burdens though heavy, he somehow bears
There's only one who cares
Though his pilgrimage extends, his progresses ascend
But as the prudent one exalts, he is gonna find his faults
But as the wise man sees, he knows, he knows
There's no rest in the west, so to the east he goes, to the east he goes
Where he can find peace of mind, oh
The Oppressed Song by Bob Marley & The Wailers is a powerful commentary on the struggles of the oppressed. The lyrics suggest that those who are oppressed seem to do the worst, but that their self-preservation is ultimately what matters. The song suggests that those who suffer from poverty and oppression are damned not because they burn free but because their poverty is the result of the destruction wrought upon them by those in power. The song highlights the fact that oppression is often a choice made by the poor, who find some measure of joy in their struggles, and suggests that they bear their burdens with resilience and endurance.
In the song, Bob Marley seems to encourage the oppressed to continue their journey, even though it is fraught with challenges and difficulties. He suggests that rest cannot be found in the west, and that the only way to find peace of mind is to move eastward. The song seems to suggest that the journey may be difficult, but that it is ultimately worth the effort. Marley's lyrics are a poignant reminder of the suffering of the oppressed and a call to action for those who would seek to end their oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
The man oppressed will seem to do the worst
An oppressed person may act in ways that seem unacceptable, but this is a result of their difficult circumstances
But with all he possesses self preservation comes first
In the face of oppression, an individual prioritizes their own safety and survival above all else
His damnation comes not from burning free
The cause of an oppressed person's suffering is not their own free will, but rather the systemic poverty and destruction around them
As destruction of the poor is their poverty, is their poverty
The source of poverty for the poor is the ongoing destruction and oppression they face, which perpetuates their poverty
While oppression is the poor man's choice
The poor man must choose to live in the face of oppression, with no other options available to escape their circumstances
Ah, but in this he does rejoice
Despite the hardship, the poor man finds a way to celebrate his own existence and resilience in the face of oppression
His burdens though heavy, he somehow bears
The poor man is burdened with many struggles, but through determination and strength, he is able to carry on
As for his seed, there's only one who cares
The poor man's children face the same struggles, but he is the only one who truly cares and understands their plight
Though his pilgrimage extends, his progresses ascend
The poor man's journey is long and difficult, but as he persists, he is able to make progress and grow
But as the prudent one exalts, he is gonna find his faults
Even as the poor man tries his best, he will inevitably make mistakes and have flaws
But as the wise man sees, he knows, he knows
The wise man understands that the poor man's struggle is not his own fault, but rather a result of systematic oppression and poverty
There's no rest in the west, so to the east he goes, to the east he goes
The poor man cannot find peace or relief in the west, so he must journey to the east to seek a better life
Where he can find peace of mind, oh
The poor man hopes to find a place where he can finally experience peace and calm in his mind, free from the constant hardships of poverty
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEVILLE LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matt_jersey6229
R.I.P Bunny
@henrycastle1
What a privilege, of our times;
True words.
❤️
@CasimirLeYeti
No Sympathy de Peter Tosh, Reincarnated Souls et ici, The Oppressed Song de Bunny Wailer, ces trois titres écartés lors de la sortie de l'album, furent ajoutés à l'édition CD de 2001.
Une belle idée, à la mémoire de Neville O'Riley Livingston, dit Bunny Wailer
@lucascelestino672
Nice song ..
@azzamzamzam1822
"Roots Rock Reggae"
@dovanscha
Meu Deus que louvor é esse
Obrigado Marley
Contra qualquer male escultor bob Marley
@alandamaceno5091
Bunny Wailer nos vocais!
@mariacandelarianunezherrer7871
👏👏👏👏👏♥️
@noisepollution6761
Too intelligent
@hamzakhan9597
He betrayed the legacy of his father and brings shame. Then we have the son if nelson Mandela!!! Doing his father proud.