Biography of Bob Marley

By Pauline Go

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945. At birth, he was christened Robert Nesta Marley. He is the most well known reggae musician of all times, and has been credited of popularizing this style of music outside of Jamaica. Most of his songs deal with how the poor and the weak of society have to struggle through life.

Marley was married to Rita Anderson, having 4 children together, including David Ziggy Marley and Stephen Marley. The two sons are still continuing with Marley's legacy through their band The Melody Makers.

Marley's mother was Cedella Booker, who was black, while his father was a Caucasian named Norval Marley. However, Marley never really got to know his father as Jamaican society did not approve of his relationship with his mother.

Initially Marley was into ska, but soon moved towards reggae as it grew. Marley formed the Wailers, and many believed that his best work was with the group.

Marley was a devout Rastafarian, and he worked as the unofficial missionary of the faith through his actions and music. He was instrumental in taking the faith to different corners of the world. In addition, he was all for peace and brotherhood. However, towards the end of his life, Marley joined the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and was baptized as Berhane Selassie.

In 1976, Marley was shot inside his home. It is believed that he was shot because of politics as the political scene in Jamaica was very violent at that point. He was supposed to give a concert that was seen to support the liberal and progressive Michael Manley, the Prime Minister of Jamaica. Marley's fans and supporters believe that the conservative party, the Jamaica Labor Party, was responsible for this. However, it was never proven who was responsible for the shooting. Both Marley and his wife were injured but they survived.

In July 1977, Marley was diagnosed with cancer in the toe. However, based on his Rastafarian beliefs, he refused to undergo amputation which was suggested by the doctor to save his life, although, he did have surgery to remove the cancerous cells from the toe.

However, the cancer metastasized to his lungs and brain. In 1980, Marley collapsed while giving a show at Madison Square Garden after which he consulted a cancer specialist named Josef Issels. But by then it was too late for any treatment.

Marley wanted to spend his last days in Jamaica but was too ill to fly. On May 11, 1981, Marley passed away at the Cedar of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida. His funeral was held in Jamaica, and was a blend of Rastafarian and Ethiopian Orthodoxy. He was buried at Nine Miles, close to the place where he was born.

In 2001, he was conferred with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

About Author:

Pauline Go is an online leading expert in the education industry. She also offers top quality articles like:

Famous Artist List, and Leonardo da Vinci Timeline

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