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Bob Marley and The Wailers

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Bob Marley: His Music and Legacy

The man who became a legend loved around the world.

By Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley’s lifetime of creativity originated in Jamaica and became the foundation of inspiration that spread messages of hope, justice, and understanding around the world. In this exhibit, discover Marley's spirit of love and unity, and celebrate the enduring legacy of his music, work, philosophy, and life.

Bob Marley with is mother Cedella and sister Pearl. Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945. Bob was born to Cedella Marley when she was 18. Bob’s early life was spent in rural community of Nine Miles, nestled in the mountainous terrain of the parish of St. Ann.

Bob Marley's birthplace Nine Miles, St Ann Bob Marley: Legend

Residents of Nine Miles have preserved many customs derived from their African ancestry, especially the art of storytelling for sharing the past and time-tested traditions that are oftentimes overlooked in official historical sources. The proverbs, fables and various chores associated with rural life that were inherent to Bob’s childhood would provide a deeper cultural context and an aura of mysticism to his adult songwriting.

A young Bob Marley in 1973 (1973) Bob Marley: Legend

While barely into his teens, Bob left St. Ann and returned to Jamaica’s capital. He eventually settled in the western Kingston vicinity of Trench Town, so named because it was built over a sewage trench. A low-income community of squatter-settlements and government yards developments that housed a minimum of four families, he quickly learned to defend himself against Trench Town’s rude boys and bad men. Bob’s formidable street-fighting skills earned him the respectful nickname Tuff Gong.

Despite the poverty, despair and various unsavory activities that sustained some ghetto dwellers, Trench Town was also a culturally rich community where Bob's abundant musical talents were nurtured. A lifelong source of inspiration, Bob immortalized Trench Town in his songs “ No Woman No Cry ” (1974), “ Trench Town Rock ” (1975) and “ Trench Town ”, the latter released posthumously in 1983.

By the early 1960s, the island’s music industry was beginning to take shape and its development gave birth to an indigenous popular Jamaican music form called ska. A local interpretation of American soul and R&B, with an irresistible accent on the offbeat, ska exerted a widespread influence on poor Jamaican youth while offering a welcomed escape from their otherwise harsh realities. Within the burgeoning Jamaican music industry, the elusive lure of stardom was now a tangible goal for many ghetto youths.

The Wailers L - R: Bob Marley, Neville Livingston and Peter tosh (1964) Bob Marley: Legend

In 1963, Bob and his childhood friend Neville Livingston a.k.a. Bunny Wailer began attending vocal classes held by Trench Town resident Joe Higgs, a successful singer who mentored many young singers in the principles of rhythm, harmony and melody. In his Trench Town yard, Higgs introduced Bob and Bunny to Peter (Macintosh) Tosh, and the Bob Marley & The Wailers legend was born. 

The trio quickly became good friends so the formation of a vocal group, The Wailing Wailers, was a natural progression; Higgs played a pivotal role in guiding their musical direction. 

Clement Dodd at Coxsone's Record Shop Bob Marley: Legend

Bob, Bunny and Peter were introduced to Clement Sir Coxsone Dodd, a sound system operator turned producer; Dodd was also the founder of the seminal Jamaican record label Studio One.

The Wailers album coverer Studio One (1964-02) Bob Marley: Legend

The Wailers’ first single for Studio One “Simmer Down,” with Bob cautioning the ghetto youths to control their tempers or “the battle would be hotter,” reportedly sold over 80,000 copies. The Wailers went on to record several hits for Coxsone including “ Rude Boy ,” “ I’m Still Waiting ,” and an early version of “ One Love ,” the song the BBC would designate as the "Song of the Century" some 35 years later.

The Wailers pose for photo outside Dynamics Recording Studios. (1970) Bob Marley: Legend

In 1970 the Wailers forged a crucial relationship with Jamaican producer Lee “Scratch” Perry, a pioneer in the development of dub, the reggae offshoot where the drum and bass foundation is moved to the forefront. 

The Wailers group photo session (1972) Bob Marley: Legend

Perry wisely paired The Wailers with the nucleus of his studio band The Upsetters, brothers Carlton and Aston “Family Man” Barrett, respectively playing drums and bass. Collectively they forged a revolutionary sonic identity, as heard on tracks like “ Duppy Conqueror ,” “ 400 Years ” and “ Soul Rebel ,” which established an enduring paradigm for roots reggae. 

In 1971, Bob went to Sweden to collaborate on a film score with American singer Johnny Nash. Bob secured a contract with Nash’s label CBS Records and by early 1972, the Wailers were in London promoting their single Reggae On Broadway . CBS, however, had little faith in their success and abruptly abandoned the group there.

Bob paid a chance visit to the London offices of Island Records and the result was a meeting with label founder Chris Blackwell. He sought the finances to record a single but Blackwell suggested the group record an album and advanced them £4,000, an unheard of sum to be given to a Jamaican act.

Black Music Magazine features the Wailers (1974-07) Bob Marley: Legend

Island’s top reggae star Jimmy Cliff had recently left the label and Blackwell saw Bob as the ideal artist to fill that void and attract an audience primed for rock music. “I was dealing with rock music, which was really rebel music and I felt that would really be the way to break Jamaican music. But you needed someone who could be that image. When Bob walked in he really was that image,” Blackwell once reflected. 

The Wailers photo for the "Catch A Fire" album (1973) by Cookie Kincade Bob Marley: Legend

Despite their “rude boy” reputation, the Wailers returned to Kingston and honored their agreement with Blackwell. They delivered their Catch A Fire album in April 1973 to extensive international media fanfare. Tours of England and the U.S. were quickly arranged and the life of Bob Marley was forever changed. 

The Wailers photo for back cover of "Catch A Fire" album. (1973) by Cookie Kinkade Bob Marley: Legend

Their U.S. gigs included an opening slot for a then relatively unknown Bruce Springsteen in New York City. The Wailers toured with Sly and the Family Stone, who were at their peak in the early 70s, but were removed after just four dates because their riveting performances, reportedly, upstaged the headliner.

Following the successful Catch A Fire Tour, the Wailers promptly recorded their second album for Island Records, Burnin , which was released in October 1973. Featuring some of Bob’s most celebrated songs “Burnin” introduced their timeless anthem of insurgency “Get Up Stand Up” and “I Shot The Sheriff,” which Eric Clapton covered and took to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Clapton’s cover significantly elevated Bob Marley’s international profile, the same year that Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the group.

Bob Marley & the Wailers Natty Dread album cover (1975) by Tony Wright Bob Marley: Legend

Bob's third album for Island Records Natty Dread , released in October 1975, was the first credited to Bob Marley & The Wailers; the harmonies of Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer were replaced with the soulfulness of the I-Threes, Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt.

Bob Marley & the Wailers Natty Dread full page Advt. (1975) Bob Marley: Legend

Characterized by spiritually and socially conscious lyrics, the Natty Dread album included a rousing blues-influenced celebration of reggae, “ Lively Up Yourself ,” which Bob used to open many of his concerts.

The joy he experienced among friends amidst the struggles of his Trench Town youth is poignantly conveyed on “ No Woman No Cry ,” while the essential title track played a significant role in introducing Rastafarian culture and philosophies to the world. 

Bob Marley live at the Lyceum Ballroom, London, UK (1975-07-17) by Adrian Boot Bob Marley: Legend

The following year Bob embarked on a highly successful European tour in support of  Natty Dread , which included two nights at London’s Lyceum Theater.  The Lyceum performances were captured on Bob’s next release for Island, Bob Marley and the Wailers Live! , which featured a melancholy version of “No Woman No Cry” that reached the UK top 40.

Bob Marley live at the Lyceum Ballroom, London. (1975-07-17) by Adrian Boot Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley, Neville Garrick, Micheal Campbell and Tyrone Downie enter the back of Birmingham Odeon (1975-07-19) by Ian Dickson Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley & the Wailers Rastaman Vibration album cover (1976-03) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley catapulted to international stardom in 1976 with the release of  Rastaman Vibration , his only album to reach the Billboard Top 200, peaking at no. 8. With the inclusion of “ Crazy Baldhead, ” which decries “brainwash education” and the stirring title cut,  Rastaman Vibration  presented a clearer understanding of Rastafari teachings to the mainstream audience that was now attentively listening to Bob. 

Bob hoists picture of Haile Selassie I during the Santa Monica CC (1976-05-25) by Kim Gottlieb Bob Marley: Legend

Also included was “ War ,” its lyrics adapted from an impassioned speech to the United Nations General Assembly in 1963, delivered by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I whom Rastafarians consider a living God. 35 years after its initial release “War” remains an unassailable anthem of equality, its empowering spirit embraced by dispossessed people everywhere.

As 1976 drew to a close, Bob was now regarded as a global reggae ambassador who had internationally popularized Rastafarian beliefs. At home, that distinction fostered an immense sense of pride among those who embraced Bob’s messages. 

Jamaica Labor party area in Kingston, Jamaica Bob Marley: Legend

But Bob’s expanding influence was also a point of contention for others in Jamaica, which was brutally divided by political alliances. With the intention of suppressing simmering tensions between Jamaica’s rival People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Bob agreed to a request by Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture to headline a (non partisan) free concert, Smile Jamaica, to be held on December 5, 1976 in Kingston.

Jamaica Daily News front page story Bob Marley Shot (1976-12-04) Bob Marley: Legend

Two days prior to the event, as Bob Marley & The Wailers rehearsed at his Kingston home, an unsuccessful assassination attempt was made on his life. Gunmen sprayed Bob’s residence with bullets but miraculously, no one was killed. Bob escaped with minor gunshot wounds, Rita underwent surgery to remove a bullet that grazed her head but she was released from the hospital the next day. 

Bob Marley live at the Smile Jamaica Concert at the National Heroes Park, Jamaica (1976-12-05) Bob Marley: Legend

If the ambush in the night at Bob's home was an attempt to prevent him from performing at the Smile Jamaica concert or a warning intended to silence the revolutionary spirit within his music, then it had failed miserably. 

Bob Marley live at the Smile Jamaica Concert at the National Heroes Park, Kingston, Jamaica (1976-12-05) Bob Marley: Legend

Bob defiantly performed “War” at the Smile Jamaica concert , which reportedly drew 80,000 people but shortly thereafter he went into seclusion and few people knew of his whereabouts.

Three months after the Smile Jamaica concert, Bob flew to London where he lived for the next year and a half; there he recorded the albums Exodus (1977) and Kaya (1978). Exodus ’ title track provided a call for change, “the movement of Jah people,” incorporating spiritual and political concerns into its groundbreaking amalgam of reggae, rock and soul-funk. A second single, the sultry dance tune “ Jamming ” became a British top 10 hit. The Exodus album remained on the UK charts for a staggering 56 consecutive weeks, bringing a level of commercial success to Bob Marley & The Wailers that had previously eluded the band.

In a more laid back vein, the Kaya album hit no. 4 on the British charts, propelled by the popularity of the romantic singles “ Satisfy My Soul ” and “ Is This Love? ” Kaya ’s title track extols the herb Marley used throughout his lifetime; the somber “Running Away,” and the haunting “ Time Will Tell ” are deep reflections on the December 1976 assassination attempt. The release of Kaya coincided with Bob Marley’s triumphant return to Jamaica for a performance at the One Love Peace Concert, held on April 22, 1978 at Kingston’s National Stadium. The event was another effort aimed at curtailing the rampant violence stemming from PNP-JLP rivalries; the event featured 16 popular reggae acts and was dubbed a “Third World Woodstock.”

In the concert’s most memorable scenario, Bob Marley invited JLP leader Edward Seaga and Prime Minister Michael Manley onstage. As the Wailers pumped out the rhythm to “Jamming,” Bob urged the politicians to shake hands; clasping his left hand over theirs, he raised their arms aloft and chanted “Jah Rastafari.”

In recognition of his courageous attempt to bridge Jamaica’s cavernous political divide, Bob traveled to the United Nations in New York where he received the organization’s Medal of Peace on June 15, 1978.

Bob Marley with Rastafarian brothers in a river in Shashamane, Ethiopia (1978-11) Bob Marley: Legend

At the end of 1978, Bob made his first trip to Africa. He visited Kenya and Ethiopia, the latter being the spiritual home of Rastafari. 

Bob Marley with Twelve Tribes of Isreal members in Shashamane, Ethiopia (1978-11) Bob Marley: Legend

During his Ethiopian sojourn, Bob stayed in Shashamane, a communal settlement situated on 500-acres of land donated by Emperor Haile Selassie I to Rastafarians that chose to repatriate to Ethiopia. 

Bob Marley in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 78' (1978-11) Bob Marley: Legend

Bob also traveled to the Ethiopian capitol Addis Ababa where he visited several sites significant to His Majesty’s life and ancient Ethiopian history.

Bob Marley getting on the train from Tokyo to Osaka (1979-04-11) Bob Marley: Legend

That same year Bob and the band's tours of Europe and America were highlighted on their second critically acclaimed live album “ Babylon By Bus .” In 1978 Bob and The Wailers also toured Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Bob marley & the Wailers SURVIVAL album cover (1979-10) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

Bob released Survival , his 9th album for Island, in the summer of 1979. From opening track’s clarion call to “ Wake Up and Live ” to the concluding “ Ambush In The Night ,” his definitive statement on the 1976 assassination attempt, Survival  is a brilliant, politically progressive work championing pan-African solidarity. 

Bob Marley & The Wailers Survival Album back cover (1979) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

Survival also included “ Africa Unite ” and “ Zimbabwe ," the latter an anthem for the soon-to-be liberated colony of Rhodesia.

Bob Marley and the Wailers visit the the president of Zimbabwe. (1980-04-15) Bob Marley: Legend

In April 1980, Bob and the band performed at Zimbabwe’s official Independence Ceremony at the invitation of the country’s newly elected President Robert Mugabe. This profound honor reconfirmed the importance of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ throughout the African Diaspora and reggae’s significance as a unifying and liberating force.

Bob Marley live in Zimbabwe (1980-04-17) Bob Marley: Legend

Unbeknownst to the band, the Zimbabwe Independence concert was solely for a select group of media and political dignitaries. As Bob Marley & The Wailers started their set, pandemonium ensued among the enormous crowd gathered outside the entrance to the Rufaro Sports Stadium: the gates broke apart as Zimbabweans surged forward to see the musicians who inspired their liberation struggle. 

Bob Marley performing at the Independence celebrations Zimbabwe (1980-04-17) Bob Marley: Legend

Clouds of teargas drifted into the stadium; the Wailers were overcome with fumes and left the stage. The I-Threes returned to their hotel but Bob Marley went back onstage and performed “Zimbabwe.” The following evening, Bob Marley & The Wailers returned to Rufaro Stadium and put on a free show for a crowd of nearly 80,000.

Bob Marley & the Wailers Uprising album cover. (1980) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

The final album to be released in Bob’s lifetime, Uprising , helped to fulfill another career objective. Bob had openly courted an African American listenership throughout his career and he made a profound connection to that demographic with “ Could You Be Loved ,” which incorporated a danceable reggae-disco fusion. “Could You Be Loved” reached no. 6 and no. 56 respectively on Billboard’s Club Play Singles and Black Singles charts.

Bob Marley at soundcheck in France during the Uprising Tour (1980-06) Bob Marley: Legend

Uprising also included contemplative odes to Bob’s Rastafarian beliefs, “ Zion Train ” and “ Forever Loving Jah ,” and the deeply moving “ Redemption Song ” a stark, acoustic declaration of enduring truths and profoundly personal musings.

Bob Marley & the Wailers live in Munich, Germany (1980-06-13) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley & The Wailers embarked on a major European tour in the spring of 1980, breaking attendance records in several countries. In Milan, Italy, they performed before 100,000 people, the largest audience of their career. 

Bob Marley exits the tour bus during the Uprising tour in Europe. (1980) by Lyn Goldsmith Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley Live soundcheck at Madison Square Garden, NYC (1980-09-19) Bob Marley: Legend

The U.S. leg of the Uprising tour commenced in Boston on September 16 at the JB Hynes Auditorium. On September 19, Bob and the band rolled into New York City for two consecutive sold out nights at Madison Square Garden as part of a bill featuring New York-based rapper Kurtis Blow, Lionel Richie and the Commodores. 

Bob Marley at soundcheck at Madison Square Gardens, New York (1980-09-19) by Adrian Boot Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley and crew on a Ferry ride during the Uprising Tour (1980) by Lynn Goldsmith Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley live during the Uprising Tour in Europe (1980-06) by Lyn Goldsmith Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley backstage at Madison Square Gardens, New York (1980-09-19) by Lyn Goldsmith Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley live during the European leg of the Uprising Tour. (1980) by Peter Murphy Bob Marley: Legend

The tour went onto the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, PA where Bob delivered the final set of his illustrious career on September 23, 1980.

Bob Marley during the Uprising tour in Europe (1980) Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley at the Essex House Hotel in New York during the Uprising tour. (1980-09-20) by Adrian Boot Bob Marley: Legend

Bob Marley live at Le Bourget, France Uprising tour (1980-07-03) Bob Marley: Legend

The Bob Marley influence upon various populations remains unparalleled, irrespective of race, color or creed. His revolutionary yet unifying music, challenging colonialism, racism, “fighting against ism and scism” as he sang in “One Drop,” has had profound effects even in countries where English isn’t widely spoken. 

Bob Marley live during the Exodus Tour - UK (1977-06) Bob Marley: Legend

In August 2008, two musicians from the war-scarred countries of Serbia and Croatia (formerly provinces within Yugoslavia) unveiled a statue of Bob Marley during a rock music festival in Serbia. It is intended to promote peace and tolerance and carries the inscription “Bob Marley fighter for freedom armed with a guitar.”

Bob Marley welcomed in New Zealand (1979-04-15) Bob Marley: Legend

In Koh Lipe, Thailand, Bob's February 6th birthday is celebrated for three days with a cultural festival. In New Zealand, his life and music are now essential components of Waitangi Day (February 6) observances honoring the unifying treaty signed between the country’s European settlers and its indigenous Maori population. 

Bob Marley surrounded by Zimbabwe freedom fighters at the Stadium in Harare a day before Independence. (1980-04-17) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

On April 17, 1980 when the former British colony of Rhodesia was liberated and officially renamed Zimbabwe and the Union Jack replaced with the red, gold, green and black Zimbabwean flag, it is said that the first words officially spoken in the new nation were “ladies and gentlemen, Bob Marley and the Wailers.”

For the Zimbabwean freedom fighters that listened to Bob Marley, inspiration and strength were drawn from his empowering lyrics. Marley penned a tribute to their efforts, “Zimbabwe,” which was included on the most overtly political album of his career, 1979’s  Survival.  

Bob Marley in Zimbabwe for Independence Concert (1980-04-16) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

He was invited to headline their official liberation celebrations. Zimbabwean police used tear gas to control the crowds that stampeded through the gates of Harare’s Rufaro Stadium to get a glimpse of Marley onstage.

As several members of Marley’s entourage fled for cover, he returned to the stage to perform “Zimbabwe,” his words resounding with a greater urgency amidst the ensuing chaos: “to divide and rule could only tear us apart, in everyman chest, there beats a heart/so soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionaries and I don’t want my people to be tricked by mercenaries.” 

Bob Marley in Zimbabwe (1980-04-16) by Neville Garrick Bob Marley: Legend

“There was smoke everywhere, our eyes filled with tears so we ran off,” recalls Marcia Griffiths, who sang backup for Marley, alongside Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt, as the I-Threes. “When Bob saw us the next day he smiled and said, 'now we know who are the real revolutionaries'."

Bob Marley served as a world ambassador for reggae music and sold more than 20 million records throughout his career—making him the first international superstar to emerge from the so-called Third World. He posthumously was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his 1977 album Exodus was named album of the century by TIME magazine and his song One Love was designated song of the millennium by the BBC . Since its release in 1984, Bob’s Legend compilation has annually sold over 250,000 copies according to Nielsen Sound Scan, and it is only the 17th album to exceed sales of 10 million copies since SoundScan began its tabulations in 1991.

In 2000, Bob received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the next year, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone named him one of the greatest artists of all time (#11). In 2006, the bustling stretch of Church Avenue, between Remsen Avenue and east 98th street in Brooklyn, was co-named Bob Marley Boulevard —a significant development for the Caribbean community. In 2010, The Wailers’ album Catch A Fire was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2012, Los Angeles declared August 7th as "Bob Marley Day." In celebration of what would have been his 68th birthday, the 55th Annual Grammy Awards in 2013 featured an all-star tribute to Bob featuring performances by Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Sting, and his sons Ziggy and Damian Marley. Directly connecting the dots between today’s sounds and the reggae legend’s illustrious career, the performance proved that Bob has the ultimate staying power.

"If you know what life is worth, you would look for yours on Earth. And now you see the light..." - Bob Marley

56 Hope Road

Bob marley: legend, the beautiful game, adventures in brazil, life in england, adventures in africa, bob marley & stevie wonder, smile jamaica > one love peace concert, 1976-1978, reggae sunsplash ii, 1979, amandla festival of unity, 1979, natty dread tour, 1975.

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Bob Marley’s ‘Uprising Live!’ documents one of the reggae icon’s final tour dates, showcasing a singer and band at the top of their game.

Published on

In the summer of 1980, Bob Marley was at the peak of his powers. He had just released his eighth album for Island, the militant and spiritual Uprising . As reggae’s figurehead hit Europe’s arenas once again, surely triumph would be the only outcome. His band, The Wailers, and vocal group, The I-Threes , were a joyously grooving experience, a beautifully supple unit honed by years on the road and inspired by their leader’s charisma. Bob’s soulful and gloriously rousing voice brought audiences to a state of bliss. Just the appearance of his dreadlocked figure on stage prompted fans to forget their troubles and dance.

Uprising Live! testifies to the elation and energy of Bob Marley’s final tour. It’s also cut through with a certain amount of pathos. Marley was battling melanoma skin cancer throughout it all. But if Bob knew his days on earth were numbered, he did not let on. Even friends and family were unaware of how poor the reggae superstar’s health was. For Bob, the Uprising Tour was simply another opportunity to “do the work,” telling of the glory of Rastafari and calling for equality and dignity for all people. He would not stop until his body gave out. Despite his increasing ill health, Bob’s message came through loud and clear. His performances were electrifying.

Listen to Bob Marley’s Uprising Live! now .

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‘legend’: the compilation that captures the very essence of bob marley, bob marley & the wailers – rastaman vibration.

Recorded at Dortmund’s Westfalenhalle on June 13, 1980, three days after the release of Uprising itself, Uprising Live! gives you a sense of what Bob Marley & The Wailers show was all about. It reveals a gathering of the faithful, assembled to hear Bob perform his riveting classics such as the combination of “War” and “No More Trouble,” the subtly funky “Work,” and the rebel anthem “Get Up, Stand Up.” There are the hits: “Could You Be Loved,” relaxed and light-stepping; “Jamming,” and a sumptuous “No Woman, No Cry,” which remains moving. True to the night itself, the album opens with four tunes from The I-Threes: “Precious World,” “Slave Queen,” “Steppin’ Out Of Babylon,” and “That’s The Way Jah Planned It.” In a different context, these would be highlights, but here, they provide a piquant starter.

“Redemption Song,” the ballad that became Marley’s valedictory, is the most gripping cut, offering a radically different arrangement to the original album version. The Rasta icon performed it on acoustic guitar with conga in support, swiftly shifting into an a capella rendition. His thoughts on the poisonous legacy of slavery rang unmediated around the auditorium before the band joined in. There is no sense of a show here, no artifice; Bob is just saying what must be said.

Dortmund was the 11th stop in a punishing 34-date European summer tour schedule. On September 16, 1980, Bob Marley & The Wailers played a gig in Boston, intended as the opening salvo of a similarly frenetic US itinerary. Bob collapsed while jogging in Central Park, having completed two shows at Madison Square Garden. He could only manage one more performance, in Pittsburgh on September 23. Bob spent his remaining days fighting the cancer that would claim him on May 11, 1981, aged just 36.

It is tempting to view the Uprising tour as Bob Marley’s last hurrah, but the singer did not see it that way. He understood his role as a messenger for Rastafarianism and did not believe in death. He knew his work would live on. It has since accumulated millions of devotees, attracted by Bob’s ability to convey complex ideas and emotions in a manner anyone could comprehend and love. The adoration he received in Dortmund, practically tangible on Uprising Live! , continues.

Donald Jackson

April 17, 2024 at 5:58 pm

Good man, missed but he lives on thru his music.

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Bob Marley and The Wailers concert reviews and tour history

• rating: 77% (6)

Fans' concert reviews

Eissporthalle kassel in kassel, germany on sat, 21 jun 1980.

Yes ,i've been there ,as a Child ,with My an antt andv her Friends ,,son i remember Bob ,with some singers anda a Banda ,anda allí people dancing ,singing anda smoking ,great show ,anda at this tiene reallyv,fucking amazing!! Rastafa I

IJshall in Geleen, Netherlands on Sat, 08 Jul 1978

I was there fantastique concert

And everyone was blowing and the chillum and the joints, hookahs came along because everyone was sitting on the floor in rows and we were stoned and suddenly he was standing there!!!!!! OMG the best festival ever!

De Montfort University in Leicester, UK on Wed, 23 May 1973

Bob/Wailers cancelled. Replaced by original support,'Band called O'. Added-'Space Cowboys'-feat Mick Pini/Geoff.Overon/Graeme Malen.

Lancaster University in Lancaster, UK on Sat, 28 Apr 1973

This was weird! I used to attend the concerts at Lancaster University regularly. I had doubts about this one. It was advertised in black lettering on an orange dayglo poster in large ketters - 'DISCO' - and in small letters at the bottom - 'With Bob Marley and the Wailers'. The entry fee, pay on the night, palm stamped from an ink pad as proof of payment, was 50p. It wasn't a disco (music played from records) at all. It was one long session of Bob and the Wailers in a well-attended hall, with everybody standing/dancing to the band's music. The night was sensational. I had seen a brief reference to the band; probably in Melody Maker, which had good Jazz/Rock coverage in those days; but I knew little or nothing about the band other than that. I was dancing with my girlfriend immediately below the stage and directly in front of Bob Marley. I recall staring up at him wondering, 'Why am I only paying 50p for this?' and 'Why is this advertised as a Disco?' This early UK performance by Bob Marley and the Wailers ranks alongside Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' tour concert, which I also attended at Lancaster University as the two best live concerts I have attended. There is some irregularity with the date of the concert which I cannot reconcile. Concerts at Lancaster University were normally on Saturday evenings. The Bob Marley concert, to my recollection, however, was on Friday evening 27 April 1973. I recall this because the day after the concert (Saturday) I went into Preston and bought a copy of the 'Catch a Fire' album, which I still have. There appears to be some mix-up with the initial gigs played by the band on this tour, with at least one cancelled. Maybe this is the source of the confusion. I recall asking about the band at the concert and being told that this was their first UK venue of the tour. If the gig was hastily re-arranged from the Saturday to the Friday night, this might explain the cheap, hastily put together, dayglo poster and the ridiculously low entry fee of 50p - a generous concession to the organisors for the rearranged date?

Rated concerts

• IJshall in Geleen, Netherlands Sat, 08 Jul 1978 100% from 2 ratings
• Lancaster University in Lancaster, UK Sat, 28 Apr 1973 100% from 1 rating
• Eissporthalle Kassel in Kassel, Germany Sat, 21 Jun 1980 100% from 1 rating
• De Montfort University in Leicester, UK Wed, 23 May 1973 60% from 1 rating
• Hall Rhenus in Strasbourg, France Mon, 09 Jun 1980 25% from 1 rating

Ratings View all

• one of the best: 4 80%
• fantastic: 0 0%
• great: 0 0%
• good: 1 20%
• disappointing: 0 0%
• should've stayed at home: 0 0%

Bob Marley and The Wailers tour history

About bob marley and the wailers.

Bob Marley and The Wailers was a group founded 53 years ago on Tuesday, 1 December 1970. They dissolved after 10 years on Monday, 11 May 1981.

Based on our research data, it appears, that the first Bob Marley and The Wailers concert happened 52 years ago on Fri, 27 Apr 1973 in Coleman Club - Nottingham, UK and that the last Bob Marley and The Wailers concert was 44 years ago on Tue, 23 Sep 1980 in Stanley Theatre - Pittsburgh, US.

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Jamaican singer and songwriter Bob Marley served as a world ambassador for reggae music and has sold more than 75 million records to date.

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Latest News: Late Singer Is the Subject of the New Biopic Bob Marley: One Love

Ben-Adir initially felt he wasn’t a fit for the role, as he couldn’t sing or dance. “My question was if [the casting personnel had] been on a worldwide search, and they said yes. And I said maybe they should go on another one,” he quipped to Entertainment Weekly . However, the actor learned to play guitar and sang all the songs during filming, though only some of his vocals were used.

Listen to a sampling of Ben-Adir’s vocals in the biopic’s trailer:

Quick Facts

Music career beginnings, wife rita marley, bob marley & the wailers, shot in 1976, later albums and songs, legacy: museum, 2024 movie, and more, who was bob marley.

Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley helped introduce reggae music to the world and remains one of the genre’s most beloved artists, having sold more than 75 million records . In 1963, Marley and his friends formed The Wailing Wailers, which eventually became Bob Marley & The Wailers. The Wailers’ big break came in 1972 when the band landed a contract with Island Records. Marley went on to sell more than 20 million records throughout his career, making him the first international superstar to emerge from the so-called developing world. A father to 11 children, Marley died from cancer in May 1981 at age 36.

FULL NAME: Robert Nesta Marley BORN: February 6, 1945 DIED: May 11, 1981 BIRTHPLACE: St. Ann Parish, Jamaica SPOUSE: Rita Marley (1966-1981) CHILDREN: Sharon, Cedella, Robert, Rohan, Karen, Stephanie, Julian, Ky-Mani, Ziggy , Damian, and Stephen ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

Robert Nesta Marley—better known as Bob Marley—was born on February 6, 1945, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica.

Marley’s mother, Cedella Malcolm (later Cedella Booker), a native of Jamaica, was only 18 when she married a much older white man, Norval Sinclair Marley, who worked as a plantation supervisor. They separated shortly after Bob’s birth. Originally from East Sussex, England, Norval was largely absent from his son’s life, and Bob talked about him in scathing terms later on.

Bob spent his early years in St. Ann Parish, in the rural village known as Nine Miles. One of his childhood friends in St. Ann was Neville “Bunny” O’Riley Livingston. Attending the same school, the two shared a love of music. Bunny inspired Marley to learn to play the guitar. Later Livingston’s father and Marley’s mother became involved, and they all lived together for a time in Kingston, according to Christopher John Farley’s Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley .

Arriving in the Jamaican capital in the late 1950s, Marley lived in Trench Town, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. He struggled in poverty, but he found inspiration in the music around him. Trench Town had a number of successful local performers and was considered the Motown of Jamaica. Sounds from the United States also drifted in over the radio and through jukeboxes. Marley liked such artists as Ray Charles , Elvis Presley , Fats Domino , and the Drifters.

Marley and Livingston devoted much of their time to music. Under the guidance of Joe Higgs, Marley worked on improving his singing abilities. He met another student of Higgs, Peter McIntosh (later Peter Tosh) who eventually played an important role in Marley’s career.

Local record producer Leslie Kong liked Marley’s vocals and had the teenager record a few singles, the first of which was “Judge Not,” released in 1962. Although he didn’t fare well as a solo artist, Marley found some success joining forces with his friends. In 1963, Marley, Livingston, and McIntosh formed The Wailing Wailers. Their first single, “Simmer Down,” went to the top of the Jamaican charts in January 1964. By this time, the group also included Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith.

The group became quite popular in Jamaica, but they had difficulty making it financially. Braithewaite, Kelso, and Smith left the group. The remaining members drifted apart for a time, and Marley went to the United States where his mother was living.

After eight months, Marley returned to Jamaica. He reunited with Livingston and McIntosh to form The Wailers. Around this time, Marley was exploring his spiritual side and developing a growing interest in the Rastafarian movement. Both religious and political, the Rastafarian movement began in Jamaica in 1930s and drew its beliefs from many sources, including Jamaican nationalist Marcus Garvey , the Bible’s Old Testament, and their African heritage and culture. It also considers the use of marijuana , known as the “holy herb,” sacred because the drug can produce heightened spiritual states. Marley smoked marijuana throughout his life and was an advocate for its legalization.

For a time in the late 1960s, Marley worked with pop singer Johnny Nash. Nash scored a worldwide hit with Marley’s song “Stir It Up.” The Wailers also worked with producer Lee Perry during this era; some of their successful songs together were “Trench Town Rock,” “Soul Rebel,” and “Four Hundred Years.”

Around the time of The Wailers’ hiatus in the mid-1960s, Marley married Alfarita “Rita” Anderson on February 10, 1966.

Rita, who was originally from Cuba but moved to Jamaica, sang in church growing up and joined a vocal group called The Soulettes as a teenager. She met Marley while in the group, and he coached her during this time. They continued collaborating professionally when Rita was a member of the I-Threes.

The couple shared five children and remained married until Bob’s death in 1981, despite his multiple extramarital affairs. Rita had trysts herself, and both had children with other partners during the marriage. “As they say you grunt and bear [the infidelity], that’s what I had to do because I was so in love with this man and love grew stronger, it’s not that it grew weaker,” she told BBC Caribbean.com in 2004.

As of July 2023, Rita is retired and lives in Miami.

Marley’s estate has recognized 11 children belonging to the singer, including nine that he fathered and two he adopted.

With his wife, Marley had five kids. He adopted her daughters Sharon, born in 1964 before their marriage, and Stephanie, born in 1974 from one of Rita’s extramarital affairs. Together, the couple shared three biological children: daughter Cedella, born in 1967; son David, known as “Ziggy” Marley , born in 1968; and son Stephen, born in 1972.

Additionally, Marley had sons Robert (born in 1972), Rohan (1972), Julian (1975), Ky-Mani (1976), and Damian (1978), as well as daughter Karen (1973).

Many of Marley’s children followed his footsteps into the music industry. For years, Ziggy, Stephen, Cedella, and Sharon played together as Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers. Ziggy and Stephen have also had their own solo careers. Sons Damian—known as “Jr. Gong”—Ky-Mani, and Julian are also talented recording artists. Other Marley children are involved in family-related businesses, including the Tuff Gong record label, founded by Marley in the mid-1960s.

As he began having children, Marley continued his musical career. The Wailers added two new members in 1970: bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett and his brother, drummer Carlton “Carlie” Barrett. The following year, Marley worked on a movie soundtrack in Sweden with Johnny Nash.

The band got its big break in 1972 when The Wailers landed a contract with Island Records, founded by Chris Blackwell. The group’s first full album under the new label was the critically acclaimed Catch a Fire from 1973. To support the record, The Wailers toured Britain and the United States in 1973, performing as an opening act for both Bruce Springsteen and Sly & the Family Stone. That same year, the group released their second full album, Burnin’ , featuring the hit song “I Shot the Sheriff.” Rock legend Eric Clapton released a cover of the song in 1974, and it became a No. 1 hit in the United States.

Before releasing their next album, 1975’s Natty Dread , two of the three original Wailers left the group; McIntosh and Livingston decided to pursue solo careers as Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, respectively. Natty Dread reflected some of the political tensions in Jamaica between the People’s National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party. Violence sometimes erupted due to these conflicts. “Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock)” was inspired by Marley’s experience of being stopped by army members late one night prior to the 1972 national elections, and “Revolution” was interpreted by many as Marley’s endorsement for the PNP.

For their next tour, The Wailers performed with I-Threes, a female group whose members included Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt, and Marley’s wife, Rita. Now called Bob Marley & The Wailers, the band toured extensively and helped increase reggae’s popularity abroad. In the United Kingdom in 1975, they scored their first Top 40 hit with “No Woman, No Cry.”

Already a much-admired star in his native Jamaica, Marley was on his way to becoming an international music icon. He made the American music charts with the album Rastaman Vibration in 1976. One track stands out as an expression of his devotion to his faith and his interest in political change: “War.” The song’s lyrics were taken from a speech by Haile Selassie , the 20 th century Ethiopian emperor who is seen as a type of a spiritual leader in the Rastafarian movement. A battle cry for freedom from oppression, the song discusses a new Africa, one without the racial hierarchy enforced by colonial rule.

Back in Jamaica, Marley continued to be seen as a supporter of the People’s National Party. And his influence in his native land was seen as a threat to PNP’s rivals. This might have led to the assassination attempt on Marley in 1976.

A group of gunmen attacked Marley & The Wailers while they were rehearsing on the night of December 3, 1976, two days before a planned concert in Kingston’s National Heroes Park. Marley was shot, with one bullet striking his sternum and bicep. Another butllet hit Rita in the head. Fortunately, the Marleys weren’t severely injured, but manager Don Taylor wasn’t as lucky. Shot five times, Taylor needed surgery to save his life. Despite the attack and after much deliberation, Marley still played at the show. The motivation behind the attack was never uncovered, and Marley fled the country the day after the concert.

Now living in London, Marley went to work on Exodus , which was released in 1977. The title track draws an analogy between the biblical story of Moses and the Israelites leaving exile and his own situation. The song also discusses returning to Africa. The concept of Africans and descendants of Africans repatriating their homeland can be linked to the work of activist Marcus Garvey . Released as a single, “Exodus” was a hit in the United Kingdom, as were “Waiting in Vain” and “Jamming,” and the entire album stayed on the British charts for more than a year. Today, Exodus is considered to be one of the best albums ever made.

Marley had a health scare in 1977. He sought treatment that July for a toe he thought he injured earlier in the year. After discovering cancerous cells in his toe, doctors suggested amputation. Marley refused to have the surgery, however, because his religious beliefs prohibited amputation.

While working on Exodus , Bob Marley & The Wailers recorded songs that were later released on the album Kaya (1978). With love as its theme, the work featured two hits: “Satisfy My Soul” and “Is This Love.” Also in 1978, Marley returned to Jamaica to perform his One Love Peace Concert, where he got Prime Minister Michael Manley of the PNP and opposition leader Edward Seaga of the JLP to shake hands on stage.

That same year, Marley made his first trip to Africa. He visited Kenya and Ethiopia, an especially important nation to him as it’s viewed as the spiritual homeland of Rastafarians. Perhaps inspired by his travels, the band’s next album, Survival (1979), was seen as a call for both greater unity and an end to oppression on the African continent. In 1980, Bob Marley & The Wailers played an official independence ceremony for the new nation of Zimbabwe. Also that year, the United Nations awarded Marley its Medal of Peace.

A huge international success, Uprising (1980) featured “Could You Be Loved” and “Redemption Song.” Known for its poetic lyrics and social and political importance, the pared down, folk-sounding “Redemption Song” was an illustration of Marley’s talents as a songwriter. One line from the song reads: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery / none but ourselves can free our minds.”

On tour to support the album, Bob Marley & The Wailers traveled throughout Europe, playing in front of large crowds. They also planned a series of concerts in the United States, but the group only played three concerts there—two at Madison Square Garden in New York City and one performance at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh—before Marley became too sick to continue.

Marley’s illness was a resurgence of the acral lentiginous melanoma discovered earlier in his toe. The cancer had now spread throughout his body, including his brain, lungs, and liver. Traveling to Europe, Marley underwent unconventional treatment in Germany and was subsequently able to fight off the cancer for months. However, it soon became clear that Marley didn’t have much longer to live.

The musician set out to return to his beloved Jamaica one last time to receive the Order of Merit from the Jamaican government. But, he didn’t manage to complete the journey. Marley died in Miami on May 11, 1981, at age 36.

Adored by the people of Jamaica, Marley was given a hero’s send-off. More than 30,000 people paid their respects to the musician during his memorial service, held at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica. Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt sang, and The Wailers performed at the ceremony, too.

Marley’s death set off a legal battle over his estate, as he did not leave a will. According to Rolling Stone , his widow, Rita, was reportedly forced to sign a fake will in the late 1980s; the Jamaican government soon took control of the estate and sold it to the head of Island Records, Chris Blackwell. After a court battle, the family was granted possession in 1991.

In 1986, Marley’s widow, Rita, founded the Bob Marley Foundation, which works to “perpetuate the spiritual, cultural, social and musical ideals which guided and inspired [Bob Marley] during his lifetime.” She remains the organization’s chairperson. Rita also established the Bob Marley Museum at the site of the musician’s home in Kingston, Jamaica, from 1975 until his death. The museum has numerous personal items belonging to Marley on display and also features a theater, photo gallery, and record shop.

In 2001, Rita helped organize the rerelease of 18 of Marley’s albums. “The music is a salve that will heal the world eventually, so we thought that this generation that really didn’t get a chance to see Bob Marley and isn’t able to get some of his old selections will now be able to do this,” she said .

Marley has inspired multiple movies. The 2012 documentary Marley , directed by Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald, combined interviews with unheard tracks and footage of Marley to tell the story of his life and career.

On February 14, 2024, the biopic Bob Marley: One Love released in theaters with actor Kingsley Ben-Adir in the lead role. Members of the Marley family were involved in the movie’s production. Ben-Adir told CBS Sunday Morning he initially had misgivings about his fit for the role because of his stature. He is 6-foot-2, while Marley was 5-foot-6. Ben-Adir lost 40 pounds for his screen test. “It was too much. I felt sick, I wasn’t sleeping,” the actor said. “There were a lot of conversations with the family where it was like, ‘We’re just trying to find Bob’s essence and his spirit in this film. You can’t copy Bob.’” Ultimately, that helped him agree to job offer.

Decades after his death, Marley’s music remains widely acclaimed. Billboard reported in 2015 that Marley had sold more than 75 million records, including copies of albums released posthumously such as the multiplatinum greatest hits collection Legends . In January 2018, Blackwell sold the majority of his rights to Marley’s catalog to Primary Wave Music Publishing, known for its branding and marketing campaigns for “the icons and legends business.”

• Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery / none but ourselves can free our minds.
• Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?
• One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.
• In this bright future, you can’t forget your past.
• I want to give you some love, I want to give you some good good lovin’.
• I believe in freedom for everyone, not just the Black man.
• Herb is the unification of mankind.
• Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.
• Don’t worry about a thing / every little thing is gonna be all right.
• Better to die fighting for freedom than to be a prisoner all the days of your life.
• Don’t gain the world and lose your soul. Wisdom is better than silver or gold.
• Love the life you live. Live the life you love.
• The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you, you just got to find the ones worth suffering for.

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How Bob Marley Used the ‘One Love’ Concert as a Gesture for Peace

By: Farrell Evans

Updated: January 30, 2024 | Original: January 26, 2024

Shortly after midnight on April 22, 1978, Bob Marley took the stage with his band at the One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. It was the first time that Marley had performed in his home country in nearly two years.

Marley was performing at the urging of gang leaders from rival political factions, with the goal of leveraging a star-studded musical performance to encourage peace in the politically divided, violence-stricken Jamaica. While the performance provided a powerful and memorable moment of unity, political violence would continue to plague the Caribbean nation.

Bob Marley and the Wailers: A Cultural and Political Force

The reggae singer had fled first to the Bahamas and then to London in 1976 after he and his wife, Rita Marley, and two others in his inner circle survived an assassination attempt at his home outside Kingston. Shot in an arm,  Marley had been preparing for the government-sponsored “Smile Jamaica” concert when several armed men raided his compound. 

Since the early 1970s with his group, the Wailers, Marley had established himself as a cultural and political force in Jamaica. His songs included lyrics that broadly addressed a concern for Pan-Africanism and colonial oppression, as well as the tensions between the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) and the opposition Jamaica Labor Party (JLP). 

Under the leadership of Michael Manley, the PNP had won the 1972 general election and reggae, according to Brown University Caribbean Studies scholar, Brian Meeks, was the soundtrack of this new political movement.

“Leading up to the ’76 election, Marley was invited to present a concert by the minister of culture at the time, so it was seen as a PNP concert even though it was a government concert,” Meeks said during an interview with the Jacobin magazine .  

“Marley was shot shortly before the concert, and it’s now pretty much certain that he was shot by a JLP gunman who wanted to stop him from bringing his significant presence to bear on an event that would redound to the interests of the PNP just before an election.”

Just two days after the attempt on his life by these suspected gang members, Marley recovered well enough to perform a 45-minute set in the “Smile for Jamaica” concert before 80,000 people at National Heroes Park in Kingston. 

While he recorded Exodus, one of the Wailer’s most famous albums during his exile in England, politically-motivated gang violence continued to engulf Jamaica, particularly in the capital city of Kingston, as the PNP consolidated its power under Manley, who won the 1976 election.

Black Culture, Black Consciousness and Rastafarianism

To understand Marley’s music and political motivations is to understand his life as a Rastafarian , a religion developed in Jamaica in the 1930s that he began to embrace in the mid-1960s after being raised as a Catholic.

Rastafarians believe that Ethiopia is their promised land and that the Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie, is the Black Messiah, the one that  Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey prophesied  would come from Africa. Marley brought that philosophy of the world to his involvement with the warring political parties that led to his involvement with the One World Peace Concert.

“In my music I and I want people to see themselves,” Marley said. “I and I are of the house of David. Our home is Timbuktu, Ethiopia, Africa where we enjoyed a rich civilization long before the coming of the European. Marcus Garvey said that a people without knowledge of their past is like a tree with­out roots.”

Party Leaders and Political Violence

The son of Norman Manley, who founded the PNP in 1938, Michael Manley courted Marley and Rastafarians during his successful run for prime minister in 1972, where the party’s slogan, “Better Must Come,” came from a song from Delroy Wilson, a reggae artist.  During the campaign, Manley wore African garb and carried an ebony and ivory staff that was given to him by Selassie.

''An epoch of brainwashing in white-oriented society has left scars which, however unconscious, mar the inner assurance with which Black people accept their own forms of beauty and excellence,'' Manley said in 1969.

In June of 1976, Manley imposed a state of emergency to curtail the political violence in the streets between gang leaders hired by both his PNP and Edward Seaga’s JLP. The State of Emergency allowed the government’s security forces to arrest 1,000 Jamaican citizens, which helped reduce serious crimes from as many as 160 a week before the emergency down to 54 in the weeks after the emergency began.

However, for Edward Seaga, the JLP leader, the state of emergency signaled the suppression of civil liberties and his party’s growing popularity with the people. A Democratic Socialist with close ties to the Cuban government, Manley believed that the JLP’s conservative opposition was sowing destabilization in the country and making allegations that Jamaica’s ruling party was communist.

Marley Returns Home for 'One Love' Concert

In late February 1978, Marley returned to Jamaica after being away in London for 15 months. He was lured home by gang leaders from rival political factions—Claudius “Claudie” Massop from JLP and his PNP counterpart, Anton “Bucky” Marshall. The two men believed that music could help bring peace and that no one better embodied this idea than Marley.

Shortly after midnight on April 22, 1978 Marley appeared before 30,000 people at the National Stadium in Kingston. During his performance of “Jammin,” he called Manley and Seaga to the stage in a show of peace. They all clasped their raised their hands together in show of unity.

The rich symbolism of the scene and Marley’s expression of love and hope filled the air with optimism for this country troubled by violence and economic blight. But the concert couldn’t ensure peace or the end the gang-related political violence in Jamaica.

In 1979, Massop—one of the "One Love" concert organizers—was killed when he was shot a reported 40 times by police in a car chase in Kingston. During the 1980 election, when Seaga soundly defeated Manley, an estimated 700 people were murdered. In 1980, Massop's counterpart, Marshall was killed in a New York City nightclub.

By then Marley was fighting his own personal battle. Diagnosed with melanoma in 1977, the 36-year-old hero of the people died in 1981 in Miami.

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40 years ago, reggae legend Bob Marley jammed Pittsburgh in his final concert

When David Meerman Scott snuck down from the Stanley Theatre balcony to snap photos of Bob Marley’s performance 40 years ago, he was just happy to be closer to the music.

“I was never rich or connected enough to have really great seats at a show,” said Scott, who at the time was 19 and a student at Kenyon College in Ohio. “But wow, if you brought a cool camera and acted like you knew what you were doing, you could get right up front.”

Scott, 59, who today lives outside Boston, had no way of knowing he was chronicling what would become the King of Reggae’s final live performance — on Sept. 23, 1980, in Downtown Pittsburgh, of all places. Robert Nesta Marley, who had skyrocketed from Nine Mile, Jamaica, into an international superstar, died of cancer May 11 the following year. He was 36.

Years later, Scott was equally shocked to find out he had captured the only images of Marley’s final show.

“I’d never brought a camera to a show,” Scott said. “And I don’t know why I did — I think it was karma, or the cosmos, or the universe talking to me.”

Booking the gig

It was a show that almost didn’t happen at all.

Legendary Pittsburgh promotions company DiCesare-Engler Productions booked the show. When Creighton native Rich Engler picked up the phone the morning of the concert, he was told Marley — who had just finished back-to-back shows opening for the Commodores at New York City’s Madison Square Garden — was not feeling well.

“I found out many years later that he’d collapsed earlier in Central Park while he was exercising,” Engler said. “His agent told me they weren’t sure Bob would appear.”

Engler also did not know that when Marley went to a New York City doctor after collapsing, he had learned the extent to which the rare melanoma had spread — to his brain, liver and lungs. After refusing a toe amputation several years earlier, surgery was no longer an option. The cancer was inoperable.

In the mid-1970s, Engler had started trying to garner local radio interest in Marley’s music, without much luck.

“We couldn’t get any momentum, we couldn’t get any radio stations to play it. They’d say, ‘It’s not rock ’n’ roll,’ ” Engler said. “Finally, Bob releases ‘Jamming,’ and I took it to all the radio stations and said, ‘Here, this is a bona fide hit.’ And they started playing it.”

Box office sales for the Marley show became one of the quickest sellouts in the history of the Stanley Theatre , which DiCesare Engler Productions had purchased a few years before in 1977 . “We were all going to make some money, so we decided that we’d postpone it if we had to,” Engler said.

The agent called back and said Marley’s wife was not pleased with the situation.

“He told me Rita was livid. She did not want Bob to get on that bus and come to Pittsburgh,” Engler said.

A couple hours later, Engler was told the band was on its way.

Night of the show

When the bus arrived, Engler met with Marley.

“He was looking really emaciated and just ill in general,” Engler said. “I took him up to his dressing room and said, ‘Please rest. If you don’t want to play, you don’t have to play.’ ”

Engler said Marley looked up and told him he had to play: The band needed the money.

“I told him I understood, but if he felt like he needed to postpone it to another day, we’d do it,” Engler said.

Rita Marley said her husband worked hard to keep up his energy off-stage and on.

“Bob kept that fire burning,” she told the Tribune-Review. “He wanted the people around him to be in good spirits.”

He slept most of that afternoon, however. When Engler returned around 6 p.m., Marley said the show was going on as scheduled.

Outside the theater on Seventh Street, Scott and his college friends had finished a four-hour road trip in time to score balcony tickets.

“It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, still to this day,” Scott said. “He was so energetic … and what a fabulous band, with all those cool musicians and the I-Threes singing backup.”

Engler agreed.

“He went onstage, and the Stanley Theatre rocked like it never had before,” he said. “That reggae beat had the balconies actually moving. Thank goodness it was built with such high quality in the 1920s. A couple of security guards came down and said they were praying that the balcony would hold up! ”

Rita Marley said that while the entire Uprising tour was significant for the band, “my strongest memory was of the audience, watching them observe his movement. Bob’s connection to his music was spirit and power. He was such a force, and the audience felt his transformational liveliness.”

Scott said it seemed as though everyone knew the lyrics to every song. The official set from the performance lists six songs over two encores.

“He just kept coming back out,” Scott said.

Engler and Scott have nothing but fond memories of that night at the Stanley, with both citing Marley’s brief acoustic solo performance as their favorite part of the show.

“Bob put on the most heartfelt performance that I had seen,” Engler said. “The ‘Redemption Song’ he played, and just everything about it was so magical and special.”

Rediscovering the photos

When Scott and his buddies returned to college, he had his photos developed into slides, put on a short slide show for friends, and then tossed them into a box where they stayed for years.

“I found out, maybe a year after that, that the show we went to was the last one,” Scott said. “There was no internet, so there was no way to know back then.”

When Marley’s estate issued a remastered version of the Pittsburgh show recording in 2011, Scott immediately bought a copy.

“I was looking through it and when I saw the art, I realized the photos in the packaging are not from this show,” he said.

Scott left an Amazon.com review of his purchase, noting that he was at the gig and had photos.

Not long after that, producers of the 2012 “Marley” documentary reached out to him, and his photos finally made their way out of a storage drawer and into the light during a five-minute segment in the film.

Lasting legacy

Marley’s rise to musical prominence did not take long. He, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer formed The Wailers in 1963. After the original group disbanded in 1974, he formed Bob Marley & the Wailers. Less than a year later, the group had its first international hit with “No Woman, No Cry” from 1975’s “Natty Dread” album.

By 1977, when the song “Exodus” from the album of the same name became a No. 1 hit in the U.K., Germany and Jamaica, Marley was a genuine international superstar.

It made perfect sense to Roger Steffens, one of the world’s foremost Marley scholars. In addition to owning the largest collection of Marley memorabilia, Steffens accompanied him on tour on several occasions and has lectured internationally about the artist.

“Bob said reggae music will just get bigger and bigger and bigger, until it reaches all its rightful people, and he might as well have been talking about himself,” Steffens said in a 2017 talk archived by the Library of Congress. “Today, he is recognized as the most important musical artist of the 20th century, and it’s not just me who feels that way, it’s also The New York Times, who said he may be the most influential musician of the second half of the 20th century.”

In 1994, Marley was the first native of a developing country to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was bestowed a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Steffens quoted longtime New York Times pop music critic Jon Pareles in describing Marley’s legacy.

“He said that Bob Marley ‘became the voice of Third World pain and resistance,’ ” Steffens said. “ ‘The sufferer in the concrete jungle who would not be denied forever. Outsiders everywhere heard Marley as their own champion. If he could make himself heard, so could they, without compromise.’ ”

For Engler, just being in Marley’s presence left a lasting impression.

“Everything he did came from the heart,” Engler said. “You could tell he was a real spiritual man, pushing for a movement with peace and love.

“That’s what he was all about.”

Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at [email protected] .

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The show Here is the official setlist from Bob Marley & the Wailers' final performance, Sept. 23, 1980, at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh: • "Natural Mystic" • "Positive Vibration" • "Burnin' and Lootin'" • "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" • "Heathen" • "Running Away" • "Dem Crazy Baldheads" • "War" • "No More Trouble" • "Zimbabwe" • "No Woman, No Cry" • "Exodus" (first encore) • "Redemption Song" • "Coming In From the Cold" • "Could You Be Loved?" (second encore) • "Is This Love?" • "Work" • "Get Up, Stand Up"

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The Marley Brothers Unite For ‘The Legacy Tour’ A Historic One-Of-A-Kind Outing Celebrating Bob Marley’s Music, Influence, And Legacy

Tickets Available on Tuesday, April 16, with Artist Presales

General onsale begins on friday, april 19 at 10 am local via marleybrothers.com.

Today, The Marley Brothers – Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian – announce The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour , their 22-date run produced by Live Nation which historically marks their first outing together in two decades . The tour will commence on September 5, 2024 at Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park in Vancouver, BC then continues across the U.S. and Canada through the fall.

Bob Marley’s music endures as a beacon of strength, hope, and unity, attracting a growing global fanbase. For over three decades, his sons have each established themselves as renowned solo artists and collectively boast an impressive count of 22 GRAMMY® Awards , with Julian securing 2024’s win for “Best Reggae Album.”

Now reunited on The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour , they’ll honor their father’s worldwide impact by performing both individual hits and classic Bob Marley songs during a momentous year for the genre. As the world nears what would have been Bob Marley’s 80th birthday in 2025 , there’s no greater homage than experiencing his music live through his sons, who carry on his enduring influence across popular culture.

Tickets will be available beginning with artist pre-sales on Tuesday, April 16 . Additional presales including a Citi presale (details below) will run throughout the week. The general on-sale starts on Friday, April 19 at 10 AM local time via MarleyBrothers.com .

Citi is the official card of the The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour . Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, April 16 at 10 AM local time until Thursday, April 18 at 10 PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com .

VIP PACKAGES:  The tour will also offer a variety of immersive VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, invitation to the pre-show soundcheck with the Marley Brothers’ band, access to the pre-show VIP lounge, specially designed VIP gift item and more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit VipNation.com .

Additionally, on April 20th, Bob Marley: One Love will expand its screenings , inviting audiences to celebrate alongside one of the most influential icons of all time. Coming off the heels of a worldwide record-breaking theatrical run and the 40th anniversary of Marley’s revolutionary album , Legend , this tour further underscores his enduring impact on the cultural landscape.

THE 2024 LEGACY TOUR DATES:

9.05 | Vancouver, BC | Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park

9.06 | Ridgefield, WA | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

9.08 | Auburn, WA | White River Amphitheatre

9.10 | Concord, CA | Toyota Pavilion at Concord

9.11 | Chula Vista, CA | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

9.12 |  Phoenix, AZ | Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

9.13 | Albuquerque, NM | Isleta Amphitheater

9.15 | Austin, TX | Germania Insurance Amphitheater

9.16 | Dallas, TX | Dos Equis Pavilion

9.18 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center

9.19 | Clarkston, MI | Pine Knob Music Theatre

9.22 | Queens, NY | Forest Hills Stadium

9.23 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center

9.25 | Bridgeport, CT | Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

9.26 | Mansfield, MA | Xfinity Center

9.27 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live

9.29 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage

9.30 | Laval, QC | Place Bell

10.02 | Wilmington, NC | Live Oak Bank Pavilion

10.03 | Atlanta, GA | Lakewood Amphitheatre

10.04 | Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amp

10.05 | Miami, FL | FPL Solar Amphitheatre

ABOUT THE MARLEY BROTHERS

About Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian who has cultivated a legendary career for close to 40 years.  The eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy has hewed his own path as a musical pioneer, infusing the reggae genre with funk, blues, rock and other elements through mindful songcraft.  Equal parts master storyteller and motivational guide, he deftly explores issues from environmental awareness to self-empowerment, social injustice to political inequity, while returning again and again to the transformative power of love. And over the past 15 years with his own companies, Tuff Gong Worldwide and Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his masters and publishing; alongside his charity URGE – benefiting the well-being of children in Jamaica, Africa and North America.

Official Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

About Stephen Marley

Stephen “Ragga” Marley is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, and producer whose work has earned no fewer than eight Grammy Awards. Born into a musical family, Stephen is the child of reggae legends Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He began singing professionally at 6, touring the world with his elder siblings Ziggy, Sharon, and Cedella in The Melody Makers. In 2008, he released his first solo album, Mind Control, which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. His subsequent solo albums include Mind Control Acoustic, Revelation Part I: The Root of Life, and Revelation Part II: The Fruit of Life. Stephen’s first new full-length album in more than seven years, Old Soul, was released on September 15 via Tuff Gong Collective/UMe/Ghetto Youths International. The new album is a departure from his previous Reggae repertoire, showcasing more of his bluesy, acoustic soul side, as evidenced by the first single, “Old Soul.” Stephen is also an acclaimed producer, working closely with his brother Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley on the massive crossover hit Welcome To Jamrock. In addition, Stephen continues to champion charitable endeavors centered in Jamaica as a co-founder of the Ghetto Youths Foundation, along with his brothers Damian and Julian Marley.  In 2017, Stephen established Kaya Fest, the annual music festival, which features special guests and rare family performances, all with the larger purpose of raising awareness around the benefits of cannabis, guided by the mantra “Education Before Recreation.”

About Julian Marley

Julian Marley, born in London, England on June 4, 1975, to Bob Marley and Lucy Pounder, embraced a musical upbringing, mastering various instruments as a self-taught musician. Mentored by reggae greats in Jamaica, he released his debut album “Lion in the Morning” in 1996, followed by international tours. He contributed to Lauryn Hill’s Grammy-winning album and collaborated on a Stevie Wonder tribute. His sophomore album, “A Time and Place,” showcased a fusion of reggae and jazz. Julian spearheaded the ‘Africa Unite’ performances and performed at the 2008 Olympic Games. His Grammy-nominated album “Awake” in 2009 garnered acclaim, winning ‘Best Album of the Year’ at the IRAWMAs. Julian, deeply rooted in Rastafarianism like his father, remains committed to spiritual and global messages in his music, embodying a conscious movement in reggae.

About Ky-Mani Marley 

Ky-Mani Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley and Anita Belnavis, is a Grammy-nominated artist who burst onto the scene with his 1996 debut album “Like Father Like Son,” blending reggae with hip-hop. Born in Falmouth, Jamaica, he has a diverse discography including “Many More Roads” (2001), “Maestro” (2015), and a collaboration with Gentleman titled “Conversations.” Beyond music, Ky-Mani has showcased his acting skills in films like “Shottas” (2002) and “One Love” (2003). With his soulful voice and powerful lyrics, he upholds the Marley legacy while forging his own distinctive path in entertainment.

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

About Damian Marley

Multi-Grammy winning talent, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley is a highly acclaimed Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer.  He is the youngest son of the revered legend, Bob Marley. His musical style fuses reggae with elements of dancehall, hip-hop, R&B, and rock, crafting a fresh and modern sound that is uniquely his own. Damian was the first ever Reggae artist to win a GRAMMY AWARD® outside of the Reggae category. The acclaimed 2005 breakthrough disc, Welcome To Jamrock , won a GRAMMY AWARD® for Best Reggae Album, with the New York Times naming the track “the best reggae song of the decade.” In 2010, Marley teamed up with Nas and brother Stephen Marley for his Distant Relatives project, and went on to partner with Skrillex for their groundbreaking track “Make It Bun Dem,” which Rolling Stone called “a monster mash-up of dubstep and dancehall.” Which went platinum with over 1 Million copies sold in the United States alone. Following the track’s success, the reggae superstar released his fourth studio album, Stony Hill , resulting in his third GRAMMY AWARD® for Best Reggae Album. In September of 2022, Marley produced the studio album, The Kalling, for Kabaka Pyramid which won Best Reggae Album at the 65th Annual GRAMMY AWARDS®. Most recently, “Jr. Gong” released his rendition of the famed George Harrison track, ‘My Sweet Lord.’. The track got the stamp-of-approval by George’s beloved wife, Olivia, as well as the George Harrison Estate. Damian is the co-founder of the renowned Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise, which is gearing up for its 9th annual.

ABOUT LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Ziggy Marley

Michelle Rodriquez | [email protected]

Damian Marley

Carleen Donovan | [email protected]

Maddie Reitz | [email protected]

Stephen Marley

Meg McLean Corso | [email protected]

Ky-Mani Marley

Tanya Moore | [email protected]

Julian Marley

Reggie Kerr | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Valeska Thomas | [email protected]

Read more about

The Wailers' journey: Bob Marley, reggae, and global impact

O riginally called "The Teenagers," Bob Marley & The Wailers was a Jamaican reggae band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer ( Neville “Bunny” Livingston) in 1963. The Wailers achieved international fame and acclaim for popularizing reggae music, which had its roots in ska and rocksteady (the ter, itself originated with the Toots and the Maytal's song "Do the Reggay").

As many of you probably know, Bob Marley (born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Jamaica), became the face of reggae and a global cultural icon. Though it's tempting to give Marley oversized credit, The Wailers band undeniably contributed greatly to the musical form (in fact, Marley's first single, “Judge Not,” was technically more ska than reggae, and featured Marley at the age of 16 — Marley's band no doubt played a major role in developing his sound, and reggae overall).

Bob Marley & The Wailers' socially and politically charged lyrics often focused on themes such as love, peace, and resistance against oppression. Some of their most famous songs include "No Woman, No Cry," "Redemption Song," "Buffalo Soldier," and "Three Little Birds." Perhaps the ultimate testament to their musical impact is Marley's surviving an assassination attempt, which is often considered political in mature, as opposed to some random, crazed fan. In fact, after the attempt on his life, Marley explained why he decided to perform at the now-iconic Smile Jamaica Concert: “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?”

Bob Marley & The Wailers lineup and key albums

The classic lineup of Bob Marley & The Wailers included Marley, Tosh, and Wailer, along with Aston "Family Man" Barrett on bass, Carlton Barrett on drums, Earl "Wire" Lindo on keyboards, and Al Anderson on lead guitar. The group released The Wailing Wailers in 1965, but it wasn't until the 1970s that they gained international recognition. One of their breakthrough albums was Catch a Fire (1973), followed by Burnin' (1973), which featured the hit I Shot the Sheriff (soon popularized further by Eric Clapton). Despite the success, in 1974, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the band to pursue solo careers, but Marley continued with new members.

Exodus: The most acclaimed Bob Marley & The Wailers album

Bob Marley's most acclaimed album, Exodus (1977), featured tracks like "Jamming" and "One Love/People Get Ready." Frankly, Marley produced so many reggae hits that it seemed impossible for him to fail, and it is tricky to speak more about The Wailers. Exodus became a landmark in the history of reggae music and is considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Bob Marley & The Wailers were not only influential in the music world but also played a significant role in spreading Rastafarian culture and messages of love and unity. Bob Marley passed away on May 11, 1981, but his legacy continues through his timeless music (which is still on the charts ) and the impact he had on global culture, which is every bit as compelling as the impact of Bob Dylan or The Beatles.

Stray facts

• The Wailers were technically not alone in transitioning from ska into reggae. The Heptones were around at roughly the same time as The Wailers.
• Island Records were no doubt helped greatly by Bob Marley and the Wailers, as they became a powerhouse of a record label from backing such successful artists.
• The album Survival (1979) explicitly endorses Pan-Africanism, solidifying Marley as a musical figure with definable political goals.
• Uprising (1980) was the final Bob Marley and the Wailers album released during Marley's lifetime, though The Walers continued without Marley after 1981.

More music news and analysis

This article was originally published on audiophix.com as The Wailers' journey: Bob Marley, reggae, and global impact .

May 7 in Music History: 40th anniversary of Bob Marley's 'Legend'

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May 07, 2024

History Highlight:

Today in 1984 marks the release of Legend , the compilation album rounding up Bob Marley and the Wailers’ greatest hits. The album has sold a reported 25 million albums worldwide but received some criticism for omitting Marley’s more aggressive artistic side.

Also, Today In:

1966 - The Mamas and the Papas started a three week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Monday Monday." The band members reportedly said they all hated the song, except for its writer John Phillips. The Mamas and the Papas won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for this song.

1972 - The Rolling Stones released their classic double album Exile On Main Street , the second album on their own label. It featured the hit singles "Tumbling Dice" and "Happy"; Keith Richards was featured on lead vocals on the latter. The album would prove to be one of the band's most influential.

1972 - Reginald Dwight legally changed his name to Elton John.

1977 - The Eagles went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Hotel California," the group's fourth U.S. No. 1.

1978 - The 90,000 tickets available for Bob Dylan's concerts at London's Wembley Empire Pool were all snatched up in less than eight hours.

1982 - The first Men at Work album, Business as Usual , already a No. 1 hit in their native Australia, is finally released in America. In November, it rises to the top in the US.

1983 - Paul Weller unveiled his new group The Style Council at an anti-nuclear benefit gig in London. The former singer and guitarist with The Jam chose a much more soul-oriented sound for his new project which ran for six years and produced five studio albums and one EP.

1988 - Terence Trent D'Arby went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Wishing Well."

1992 - John Frusciante quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the middle of their Japanese tour.

1998 - Steve Perry officially left Journey, honoring an agreement made with Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain that they would reform the band without him if he was not able to tour. He was replaced with the similar-sounding Steve Augeri. Read his 2018 interview with Jill Riley here .

2002 - On this day, The Rolling Stones arrived in New York's Van Cortlandt Park via a blimp, announcing 32 North American dates as part of their 40th anniversary world tour.

2011 - John Walker (John Joseph Maus), best-known as the founder of The Walker Brothers, died of liver cancer at his Los Angeles home.

2016 - After completing a tour with Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose took over as lead singer for AC/DC, filling in for Brian Johnson at a show in Lisbon after Johnson was told that continuing the tour could result in permanent hearing loss. Rose filled in on the remaining dates as a guest vocalist.

2016 - Following his unexpected death, Prince took the top two spots on the Billboard albums chart with The Very Best of Prince at No. 1 and Purple Rain at No. 2.

Jim Lowe ( “The Green Door” ) was born today in 1923.

Teresa Brewer ( “Music! Music! Music!” ) was born today in 1931.

R&B singer Jimmy Ruffin ( “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” ) was born today in 1936.

Johnny Maestro — lead singer for the Crests, the Del-Satins, and the Brooklyn Bridge — was born today in 1939.

Country singer-songrwriter Terry Allen (“Amarillo Highway”) is 81.

Thelma Houston is 78. She had the 1977 US No. 1 single 'Don't Leave Me This Way' which won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Bill Danoff of Starland Vocal Band ("Afternoon Delight") is 78.

Jerry Nolan, drummer for New York Dolls, was born today in 1946.

Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann is 77.

Mic Gillette of Tower of Power was born today in 1951.

Stephen E. Diggle, aka Steve Diggle of Buzzcocks was born today in 1955, making him 69 today. He is a guitarist and vocalist in the band, and it all began in June of 1976 when he attended a Sex Pistols gig at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall and was there introduced to guitarist Pete Shelley and vocalist Howard Devoto, who were looking for a bassist for their band, Buzzcocks. John Maher joined as drummer and six weeks later, Buzzcocks played their first show. After releasing three albums, the band broke up in 1981 following a dispute with their then-record label, but reunited in 1989, since releasing six more albums. Steve has now taken over lead singer duties in the band, and they are still touring and drawing in large crowds from around the world.

Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell is 63.

Eagle-Eye Cherry is 56.

J Balvin is 39.

Matt Helders, drummer for Arctic Monkeys, is 38.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music , Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock , Song Facts and Wikipedia .

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Bob Marley dies leaving a great legacy

At the age of 36,  Bob Marley succumbed to cancer after a valiant battle that began during his last concert tour in the United States. Despite undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Bavaria, Germany, his health deteriorated rapidly, leading to his hospitalisation in Miami. Marley's legacy extends far beyond his musical prowess. He was a symbol of resilience and social consciousness, advocating for unity and justice through his timeless songs.

Published Thursday, May 14, 1981

Bob Marley dies of cancer 

-The Reggae King was only 36

THE HON ROBERT NESTA MARLEY, O.M., the most widely acclaimed Jamaican musician ever, died of cancer in the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida, on Monday, May 11.

Bob Marley, as he was known worldwide, was on his way home to receive the honour of Order of Merit, which was conferred on him by the Government less than a month ago. The reggae singer was the biggest-selling recording artiste in the history of Jamaican music, having sold well over 20 million records.

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His battle with cancer started some eight months ago during his last concert tour of the United States. Marley had finished the European leg of his tour and was performing in Madison Square Gardens, New York, in October last, when he fainted. His connections reported that he was suffering from exhaustion. However, it was later revealed to be cancer.

Marley, who was 36 years old, was returning home from Bavaria, West Germany, where he had undergone chemotherapy treatment for the disease at the clinic of Dr Josef Issels, whose unorthodox approach to the treatment of cancer has been scoffed at by leading European experts.

The singer had stopped off in Miami because daily treatment, which was required for the disease, was said to be probably non-existent in Jamaica. He arrived in Miami on Thursday and entered the hospital on Friday. On Monday, May 11 he was in his room with his wife, Rita, his mother, Mrs Cedella Booker, and his attorney-business agent and constant travelling companion Miss Diane Jobson. He requested that his wife fetch something from his South Miami home, where his mother resides, but he died before she returned.

DOCTORS GAVE UP

The story of his illness goes back to last October when he began treatment at the Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York for the disease. After he was given up by the American doctors who gave him until Christmas to live, he went to Bavaria for treatment.

He stayed with Dr Issels at Rottach-Egern near Lake Tegern in the Bavarian Alps. When he arrived there, he was partially paralysed by a brain tumour. He had cancer in the stomach, his "locks" were shorn, and he had a ban placed on his drinking alcohol or smoking. His mouth appeared twisted, and he was weak after losing a great deal of weight.

However, in an exclusive interview with John Stevenson of Associated Newpapers, he said: “Like so many other patients who come here (Issel’s place), I was given up by the doctors to die. Now I know I can live. I have proved it.”

Marley was one of the world's most popular pop singers. He was also a very successful songwriter, having written million-selling hits for entertainers such as Johnny Nash and Eric Clapton. He was also a producer and businessman and owner of Tuff Gong Recording Studios on Hope Road, St Andrew, one of the largest in the Caribbean.

BORN IN ST ANN

He was born in Rhoden Hall St Ann, on February 6, 1945. His father was a British naval captain, Norman Marley of Liverpool, England, who was in Jamaica during the Second World War. His mother, Cedella Booker, emigrated to the United States several years ago and now lives in Miami.

Bob, who became a welder, his mother, and two brothers and a sister moved to Kingston when he was nine. They lived at Waltham Park Road and later at Wilton Gardens (Rema), Trench Town.

He started recording in 1965, and his first record was Judge Not. Although he and his group, the Wailers, which included Peter McIntosh and Bunny Livingstone and which was formed in Wilton Gardens, made several hit songs including Rude, Boy Ska, Simmer Down, Stir It Up, and Nice Time during the ‘60s, they never achieved real success until the early ‘70s.

In 1972, the Wailers signed a contract with Island Records, and the first album Catch A Fire, which was distributed worldwide by Island, was a moderate success. Island is owned by Jamaican businessman Chris Blackwell, who also gave the start to the career of entertainers such as Millie Small, Jimmy Cliff, and Owen Gray.

After the initial success of Catch A Fire, the group recorded Burning before they split. Bob then formed a band including his two mainstay musicians, Aston Family Man Barrett on bass and Carlton Barrett on drums and the singing group, the I-Threes, comprising his wife Rita, a former lead singer of the Soulettes; Judy Mowatt, formerly of the Gayletts; and Marcia Griffiths.

Bob Marley and the Wailers went on to make the Natty Dread album and then the Rastaman Vibrations album, which became their first million-seller. Since then, they have recorded several other albums, including Survival, Kaya and his latest Uprising, which was released last summer.

NATIONAL HONOUR

In April this year, Bob Marley was awarded the nation's third-highest honour, the Order of Merit (OM). Also in April, he was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Gleaner Company for his contribution to entertainment.

In 1980, he was invited by the newly elected Patriotic Front Government of Zimbabwe to perform at celebrations marking Independence. In 1976, he was awarded the Deutsche Schallplatten Award by Ariola Records for sales of his records.

In 1978, he was the guest performer at the Peace Concert, which was organised by the Peace Committee made up of several political gangs, to try to end tribal political warfare in the Corporate Area.

In the early years, Bob and the Wailers did several ballards, including It Hurts to Be Alone and "I'm Still Waiting" as well as several ska tunes dealing with life in general. The most popular among the latter were "Simmer Down", "Rude Boy Ska", "Dancing Shoes", and "Bend Down Low".

Tunes like "Rude Boy Ska" and Peter McIntosh's "I Am The Toughest", became anthems of the rebellious youth population of the 1960s in a period when guns were becoming quite prevalent, Kingston was seething with rival gangs, and political rivalry started to develop into a bloody war. The song made the Wailers the idols of those youths, but in later years, the group was to become the conscience of the young with their strong Rastafarian influence and rigid opposition to a political division, which they termed "tribalism".

By the early '70s, they were singing tunes like "400 years", "Jah Live", and "Guava Jelly", which appealed largely to adults while still dealing with the explosive issues of hunger and poverty.

His last local appearance was at the Reggae Sunsplash show in Montego Bay in July 1979.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at  [email protected] .

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