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
Who Colt The Game
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who colt the game
It's not natty dready
It must be bald heady
Somebody play the wrong domino
And want the world to follow
Someone is fillin' their sack
In a completry? Black
A you colt the game
Why you play the bad card
Now we catch you off guard
Natty dread want to shuffle
Not lookin' for nothin' to scuffle now
Natty dread want to shuffle
Not lookin' for nothin' to scuffle now
Who colt the game
Who colt the game
One way in, one way out
Some a holler some a shout
Natty dread want to shuffle
Not lookin' for nothin' to scuffle now
Natty dread want to shuffle
Not lookin' for no one to hassle now
You colt the game divided in
Why you play the bad card
Now we catch you off guard
Somebody play the wrong domino
And cause the rest to follow
Someone is fillin' ya sack
Well it's a completry? Black
Who colt the game
Who colt the game
Now 'bout to fill your sack
It's a completry black
Natty dread want to shuffle
Natty dread want to shout
Colt and colt
Colt and colt
Speak the truth and do it ever
Who colt the game
'Cause once you did it you'll do it again
Who colt the game
The song "Who Colt The Game" by Bob Marley is a powerful and thought-provoking composition that tackles themes revolving around injustice and betrayal. The lyrics highlight the idea that someone has manipulated or cheated the system, leaving others to deal with the consequences. The song's opening lines, "Who colt the game, it's not natty dready, it must be bald heady" suggest that the blame lies with someone who is not aligned with the Rastafarian movement, hence the use of the term "bald head" which is a derogatory term used to describe non-Rastafarians.
The song also references the idea that somebody has played the wrong domino and wants the rest of the world to follow suit. This could be interpreted as someone making a bad decision or taking an action that has negative consequences for others. The repetition of the line "Natty dread want to shuffle, not lookin' for nothin' to scuffle now" suggests that the Rastafarian community is not interested in conflict or confrontation, but rather a peaceful resolution to the situation at hand.
The overarching message of the song seems to be one of speaking truth to power and holding those who have colted (cheated) the system accountable for their actions. The final lines, "Speak the truth and do it ever, who colt the game, 'cause once you did it you'll do it again" solidify this idea and encourage listeners to stay vigilant and aware of those who might try to take advantage of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Who colt the game
Who stole the power and control
It's not natty dready
It's not the Rastafarian way
It must be bald heady
It must be the oppressors and exploiters
Somebody play the wrong domino
Somebody made a mistake and caused chaos
And want the world to follow
And they want everyone to follow their corrupted ways
Someone is fillin' their sack
Someone is taking advantage and getting rich
In a completry? Black
In an extremely dark and corrupt way
A you colt the game
You stole the power and control
Why you play the bad card
Why did you take advantage and exploit others
Now we catch you off guard
Now the truth has come out and you're in trouble
Natty dread want to shuffle
The Rastafarians want peaceful change
Not lookin' for nothin' to scuffle now
They're not looking for a fight, but a peaceful shuffle
One way in, one way out
There is only one way to true freedom
Some a holler some a shout
Some are protesting and others are fighting
Not lookin' for no one to hassle now
Not looking for trouble or conflict
You colt the game divided in
You divided and controlled the people
Somebody play the wrong domino
Someone made a mistake and caused chaos
And cause the rest to follow
And their actions influenced others to follow
Well it's a completry? Black
The corruption is extremely dark and harmful
Now 'bout to fill your sack
Now the tables have turned and you will reap what you sowed
Natty dread want to shuffle
The Rastafarians still want peaceful change
Natty dread want to shout
The Rastafarians want their voices heard
Speak the truth and do it ever
Speak the truth and keep doing it
'Cause once you did it you'll do it again
Because those who steal power will continue to do so
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luis Eduardo Fiuza
Tenho 33 anos e desde os 6 ouço reggae, componho, canto, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer e Steel Pulse foram minha grande escola e esses caras (os dois primeiros principalmente) ainda conseguem m surpreender...
Foram abençoados com uma sabedoria além da normal d um ser humano.
As vezes até duvido s realmente são seres humanos... os caras são demais, na moral...
Elmo Selmo
Tenho 32 também reggae desde um pequeno Natty dread
onofre neto
Tenho 40 anos e Bob Marley está além do seu tempo!!! Um profeta dos tempos modernos!!!
erivaldo silva
Eu achei que já tinha ouvido todos os reggaes de Bob Marley; incrível esse Bob Marley, merece ser chamado rei 👑 do reggae
Barrington Edwards
HE IS THE KING OF MUSIC SILLY BOY😂😂
DUCA GAMA
Salve o rei do reggae .bob Marley..
Neat Technologiestz
Rafael will be remembered forever for giving new life to early Bob Marley music....Respect from Tanzania 🇹🇿
Diego Oliveira
Por favor traduzar todos as musicas e videos possivel, mais brasileiro tem q ver a verdade do q é o Reggae, q na minha opniao sao musicas revolucionaras.
Jefferson Conceicao
Parabéns Rafael pelo seu canal primeira vez que escuto está canção, para mim é como se está musica fosse nova amo o bob.
Eddie Bones
Hoy descubrí esta perla perdida, Máximo Respeto por compartir !