SHORT BIOGRAPHY

BOB MARLEY
Date of birth: February 6, a945 in Nine Miles, St. Ann, Jamaica

Died: May 11, 1981 in Miami, Florida, USA (Metastic skin cancer)

Birth name: Robert Nesta Marley

Occupation: Singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist.

“Don’t gain the world and lose your soul,

wisdom is better than silver or gold.”
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica, to Norval
Marley and Cedella Booker. His father was a Jamaican of English descent. His mother was a
black teenager. The couple planned to get married but Norval left Kingston before this could
happen. Norval died in 1955, seeing his son only once.

“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.”

Bob Marley started his career with the Wailers, a group he formed in 1963. Marley married Rita Marley in February
1966, and it was she who introduced him to Rastafarianism. Bob fully embraced Rastafarianism, which greatly
influenced Marley's music and reggae music in general. The Wailers collaborated with Lee Scratch Perry, resulting in
some of the Wailers' finest tracks like "Soul Rebel", "Duppy Conquerer", "400 Years" and "Small Axe." This collaboration
ended bitterly when the Wailers found that Perry, thinking the records were his, sold them in England without their
consent. However, this brought the Wailers' music to the attention of Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records.
Blackwell immediately signed the Wailers and produced their first album, "Catch a Fire". This was followed by "Burnin'",
featuring tracks as "Get Up Stand Up" and "I Shot the Sheriff." Eric Clapton's cover of that song reached #1 in the US. In
1974 Tosh and Livingston left the Wailers to start solo careers. Marley later formed the band "Bob Marley and the
Wailers", with his wife Rita as one of three backup singers. This period saw the release of some very successful albums,
such as "Natty Dread", "Rastaman Vibration".

In 1976, during a period of extreme political violence in Jamaica, a murder attempt was made on Marley's life. Marley
left for England, where he lived in self-exile for two years. In England "Exodus" was produced, and it remained on the
British charts for 56 straight weeks. This was followed by another successful album, "Kaya." These successes introduced
reggae music to the western world for the first time, and established the beginning of Marley's international status.

In 1977 Marley consulted with a doctor when a wound in his big toe would not heal. More tests revealed malignant
melanoma. He refused to have his toe amputated as his doctors recommended, claiming it contradicted his Rastafarian
beliefs. Others, however, claim that the main reason behind his refusal was the possible negative impact on his dancing
skills. The cancer was kept secret from the general public while Bob continued working.

“Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don’t give up the fight.”
Returning to Jamaica in 1978, he continued work and released "Survival" in 1979 which was followed by a successful
European tour. In 1980 he was the only foreign artist to participated in the independence ceremony of Zimbabwe. It
was a time of great success for Marley, and he started an American tour to reach blacks in the US. He played two shows
at Madison Square Garden, but collapsed while jogging in NYC's Central Park on September 21, 1980. The cancer
diagnosed earlier had spread to his brain, lungs and stomach. Bob Marley died in a Miami hospital on May 11, 1981. He
was 36 years old.

Source: - IMDb

Bob Marley’s Gibson Les Paul Special

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BOB MARLEY:
Is father, with his wife Rita of Sharon Marley Prendergast (adopted), Cedella Marley, Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, and Stephanie (possibly adopted). He
also had seven illegitimate children Rohan, Robbie, Karen, Julian Marley, Damian Marley, Ky-Mani Marley and Makeda Jahnesta who was born 11 days after
he died in 1981.

Survived an assassination attempt, receiving minor injuries in the chest and arm (December 1976).

He is buried in a crypt at Nine Miles, near his birthplace, with his Gibson Les Paul Guitar, a soccer ball, a cannabis bud, and a Bible.

Was voted the third greatest lyricist of all time by BBC News Online users, following Bob Dylan and John Lennon.

Was an avid and passionate soccer player.