The interesting life of bob marley. Bob Marley's Son Was Bob Marley Prime Minister?

ALL PHOTOS

Millions of people considered her the happiest woman on Earth - after all, she was the wife of Bob Marley himself, the world reggae superstar. However, as it turns out only now, for Rita Marley, life with a living legend was a real nightmare. The man she loved with all her soul betrayed her at every turn.

So, one day, when Rita tried to rebel against him, deciding to deny him sex until he stopped cheating on her, Marley simply raped his wife. Rita is now 57 years old. And only now for the first time she decided to openly talk about that terrible day in 1973.

According to her, Bob did not want to put up with the state of affairs and stated that as his wife she was obliged to fulfill her marital duty. "He took possession of me by force, and I call it rape. After that I felt just terrible. I shouted to him: 'I hate you!' I hate you!” says Rita.

Before the rape, there were years of Marley's constant infidelities, and many women gave birth to children from him. When Rita became indignant at the number of children Bob was producing, he explained to her that he wanted to have a lot of children, but did not want to burden his wife with pregnancy. He cynically told Rita: “You don’t want to get pregnant every year, do you? So part of all this is done so as not to put this burden on you and your body.”

However, despite all this, according to Rita, she loved him as much as when they first met.

“The fact that he did all this and cheated on me does not mean that he was a bad husband. He always fully provided for me, gave me everything I needed,” says Rita. “However, show business ruined him, girls.” which hung around his neck."

How it all began: before world fame, Bob Marley had the only underpants

Rita, born Alpharita Anderson, a Cuban, met Robert Nest Marley when she was 18 and he was 19 in 1965 in Trenchtown, in the Kingston ghetto of Jamaica. Robbie was the humble guitarist for local rock band the Wailing Wailers. Every day the group went to a local studio where they recorded their album, and the musicians' path lay past Rita's house.

One day, Rita and her friends stopped the group and impromptu performed a song for them - Bob really liked it and invited them to do backing vocals on some of the songs the group was recording. Soon Rita and Bob became lovers.

“We were so in love! Bob was romantic and faithful, and I thought it would always be like this,” says Rita. “Rehearsing, we looked into each other’s eyes and sang, and then kissed. It was some kind of magic.”

In 1966 the couple got married. From then until 1972, when Bob signed a contract with Island Records, almost all of Marley's records were sold by Rita in an amateur store that was located in their house. When the star period began, Rita toured the world with Marley as one of his backing vocalists. The Mirror writes about the history of the relationship between Bob Marley and his wife (translation on the website Inopressa.ru).

Rita remembers how, in the early years of their marriage, she washed Bob's only underpants by hand in a basin outside their home in St. Ann every evening. However, when Bob Marley and his band The Wailers gained worldwide fame, the king of reggae forgot everything that Rita had done for him and rushed into all troubles.

“In every country he visited, Bob met with some miss or local beauty queen. At night she came to his bedroom and was in no hurry to leave in the morning,” says Rita. “Of course, I saw all this, because I "I was a backing singer in his band and his wife. So I saw all this and I was very hurt, I was overcome with jealousy."

"Most of the time I was Mrs. Marley, but it was just a title and nothing more. Often I considered myself a divorcee. I just thought - to hell with it all! - especially when he started bringing me children from women he impregnated and wanted so that I can keep an eye on them,” Rita noted.

During an interview with an American newspaper, when the journalist asked Marley about his wife, he replied: “Oh, no, Rita is my sister.” Yet Bob Marley used his charm, which she could not resist, and called her his “queen, wife, life.”

Rita, now a reggae star herself, thinks that despite all her love for Bob, she would not have been able to save their marriage if Bob was still alive: “Because of the disappointment and pain I faced “Even though I tried to show myself to the world with a smile on my face, Bob’s lifestyle was killing me.”

Despite constant affairs with other women, Bob Marley maintained a possessive attitude towards his wife and was jealous of her. Returning to Jamaica from a tour of Britain in 1973, Bob told Rita that a girl in London was expecting his child and that Rita was to take care of the baby when it was born. At the same time, Marley had an affair with Cindy Breakspear, a Jamaican beauty who three years later became Miss World. For Rita, the message about his pregnant mistress in London was the last straw, and she decided to refuse him sex, demanding that he stop cheating on her.

This is how Rita described what happened in their lives after that: "I felt like I was being played and would continue to be played for a long time. So I decided that I was not going to play this game anymore. I told him simply and clearly: if you are going to continue to cheat on me, there will be no more sex between us .

At that time, we didn’t have AIDS yet, but there were other diseases, and I couldn’t help but think that all this was turning into some kind of madness and that some kind of disaster would certainly happen to me if I continued to have sex with him . I didn't know if he uses condoms, but I doubt it. In addition, I was trying to punish him by refusing sex: I knew that he wanted me, but I decided to be stubborn in order to show him what he was missing out on.

I also wanted to put pressure on him, because the children were growing up and starting to ask: “What’s going on?” When I told him, “I'm not going to sleep with you anymore,” Bob immediately assumed that I had a lover. He got angry. The answer “no” did not suit him.

And sex still happened, but it was just sex, and not lovemaking. He took possession of me by force. After that I felt terrible. I screamed at him: “I hate you! I hate you!” I think that's when I got pregnant again. When I discovered that I was having another child, I thought, “Oh my God, what is this?” Despite all my attempts to control the situation, I am so tired of his lifestyle!

Rita and Bob's third daughter, Stephanie, was born in 1974. While experiencing pain and humiliation, Rita still continued to love and support her husband and be a mother to all his many children.

In 1981, 36-year-old Bob Marley died of cancer in her arms. Rita now heads the Bob Marley Foundation in Jamaica and runs her own charity that helps poor children in Ghana, West Africa.

She forgave her husband. "Bob was a good man and a good husband," she notes. "And just because he had other women doesn't mean he wasn't a good husband. I was always there for him, and I would always be there for him. "He knew that I was with him not because of glitz or whim or fame, but because I loved him. And I intend to keep his memory alive."

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in the north of Jamaica in the town of Parish. His real name is Robert Nesta Marley. At birth he was named Nesta Robert Marley, but at the passport office, due to an error by an employee, the names were switched.

His fifty-year-old father, Norval Marley, a European by birth, served as an officer in the British navy, then worked as a manager on one of the plantations in Jamaica. There he met Bob's future mother, 17-year-old Jamaican girl Cedella Booker.

The house where Bob Marley spent his early years

Shortly after Bob's birth, Norval, under pressure from his previous family, left Cedella. Bob did not have a family in the traditional sense - his father rarely appeared, although he provided financial assistance. When Bob Marley turns 10 years old. Norval died.

Bob Marley's parents

In the late sixties, Bob Marley, along with his mother, left Parish in search of a better life and moved to the capital of Jamaica, Kingston. During those years in Jamaica, many moved to Kingston in search of work. After early disappointment in the capital, many moved to the slums. The most famous poor area is Trenchtown.

Like everyone else, Marley and his mother eventually settled in Trenchtown. There Bob makes a friend, Neville Livingston, nicknamed Bunny. There was a catastrophic shortage of money. Bob decides to quit school and gets a job as a welder.

The guys spend all their free time listening to the radio. It was through radio that Bob developed the desire to become a singer. So he begins to practice singing by taking free lessons from famous Jamaican musician Joe Higgs. During his lessons he meets Peter Mackintosh, another ambitious young man.

Bob Marley and Joe Higgs

In 1962, Bob Marley was noticed by Leslie Kong, who had his own recording studio. Kong was impressed by his vocals and invited Bob and his friends to try recording in his studio. So at the age of 19, Bob Marley debuted with a single called “Judge Not,” which he wrote with Joe Higgs.

Bunny and Tosh (left)

Then other songs appeared - “Terror” and “One Cup of Coffee”, which did not attract much attention, but confirmed the idea of ​​​​Bob Marley to become a singer. At this time, he decides to create a group with Bunny and Peter.

A year later in 1963, with the help of Higgs, Bob Marley, Bani, Peter Mackintosh assembled a group, calling it “The Wailing Wailers”. There was no irony in this - after all, the tradition of crying is strong in black culture. The group also included Junior Braithwaite, Cherry Green and Beverly Kelso. Bass guitarist Aston Barrett became the band's musical director.

The group's first single, “Simmer Down” (1964), topped the Jamaican charts and sold more than 80 thousand copies. The album was recorded at Studio One. This was a real breakthrough. Very quickly the group "The Wailers" is gaining popularity and becoming famous in Jamaica. After the dizzying success, The Wailing Wailers began to constantly record with Coxon Dodd in his studio, looking for new themes for their songs, one of which was the theme of street ore fighting.

After some time, the group recorded the single “I"m Still Waiting” in Studio One. Despite the popularity of the group, there was not enough money for all the participants. In 1965, The Wailers reduced the lineup to a trio (Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith) And in 1966 the group broke up.

Bob Marley and Rita Anderson (left)

On February 10, 1966, Bob Marley married Rita Anderson. At the same time, Bob Marley's mother remarried and moved to the United States, where she saved money for her son to fly to her. She wanted him to start a new life in a new country. Hoping for a better life, at age 21, Bob moved to the United States to live with his mother. But Bob's stay in the USA was short-lived. For some time he worked as a loader, a waiter, and then as an auxiliary worker at an automobile plant. And after 8 months he returns to Jamaica. While Bob Marley was in America, Emperor Haile Selasie, the incarnation of Almighty Jah, the Rastafarian god, visited Jamaica. This contributed to the rapid development of the Rasta movement.

Haile Selasie (left)

During this boom, Marley once again settled in Kingston. Bob begins to believe more and more in the Rasta religion, reflecting his beliefs in new songs.

Together with his friends, Bob Marley again forms a group and gives it a new name - “The Wailers”. And it includes a female vocal trio. His wife, Rita, also begins to sing in this group.

In 1970, Bob Marley is trying to sign contracts with some record labels. But these attempts were unsuccessful, since the musician was not known outside of Jamaica.

In 1971, the musicians organized their own recording company, Tuff Gong, but this venture was not successful either.

Johnny Nash (left)

In 1971, at a Rastafarian religious ceremony, Elder Mortimo Planno introduces Bob Marley to American singer Johnny Nash. This acquaintance plays an important role in Bob's life. At the end of 1971, under the leadership of Johnny Nash, the group recorded two songs, “Stir It Up” and “Guava Jelly,” which became hits. In Jamaica, Bob's fame is fading. He becomes the voice of the Rastafarian movement, which was gaining popularity at that time.

In the summer of 1971, Bob Marley accepted Johnny Nash's invitation to accompany him to Switzerland, where the American singer gave several concerts. In Europe, Bob signs a contract with Nash's company, CBS.

In the spring of 1972, the entire Wailers team comes to London to promote the CBS single "Reggae on Broadway", but they end up in dire straits.

In a desperate move, Bob Marley goes straight to the English branch of Island Records and asks for help from its founder and owner Chris Blackwell.

Chris Blackwell

Blackwell already knew Bob Marley and knew his reputation in Jamaica and offered The Wailers a unique contract at that time for Jamaican artists, they were given $4,000 to record their first album.

In 1972, The Wailers released their debut album, Catch A Fire, which became their first release outside of Jamaica. This album was warmly received by the public. And it was the first step on the path to world fame.

Album - Catch A Fire

Eric Clapton also helped the musicians in developing their popularity, who included The Wailers’ composition “I Shot The Sheriff” in his album, which became an international hit.

In 1973, the group toured the United States. Soon, Tosh and Livingston left the group, starting solo careers.

Album - Natty Dread

In 1975, The Wailers released their new album, Natty Dread. The song “No Woman, No Cry” from this album was extremely popular. The album "Natty Dread" achieves stunning success. Included in the British Top 40 and America's Top 100. The popularity of the group and Bob Marley in particular is growing. Bob Marley successfully performs on the London stage of the Lyceum Ballroom.

In 1976, The Wailers were awarded the title of best group according to a poll by Rolling Stone magazine. They become recognized leaders of reggae and successfully tour around the world.

The album "Rastaman Vibration", which was released in 1976, cracked all the charts. The album's main songs were Crazy Baldhead, Johnny Was, and War, for which the lyrics were taken from Haile Selassie's performances.

In Jamaica, Bob Marley became a real cult figure; the public perceived his political and religious speeches as revelations of a saint.

In 1976, an assassination attempt was made on Bob Marley, who inevitably found himself drawn into local politics. Despite the serious wound, the concert was not cancelled. When asked why he decided not to cancel the concert, Marley replied:

"The madmen who try to make our world worse never rest, how can I... Light up the darkness!"

Bob Marley loved to play football

This concert was Bob Marley's last appearance in Jamaica for a year. After the concert, Bob Marley went to live in London, where at the beginning of 1977 he recorded a new album, “Exodus”.

In July 1977, Marley was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her big toe. He refuses amputation due to religious beliefs:

“Rastas do not accept amputation. I don’t allow a person to be dismantled for parts.”

In 1978, Bob Marley was awarded the Peace Medal established by the UN.

On May 4, 1980, Bob Marley was baptized at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Kingston and took the name Berhane Sellasie (Amharic for Light of the Holy Trinity). He was then awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit.

In the same 1980, the government of liberated Zimbabwe invited The Wailers to the Independence Day ceremony - this was recognition of Marley’s services to third world countries.

After some time, Bob Marley's health began to rapidly deteriorate.

Bob Marley is being treated in Munich by cancer specialist Josef Issels, but treatment attempts have been unsuccessful. As a result of the disease, Marley's dreadlocks begin to fall out, and they have to be cut off.

Feeling that death was imminent, Bob wanted to return to his homeland, but due to health conditions, the flight from Germany had to be interrupted to Miami. On Monday May 11, 1981, Bob Marley dies in a Miami hospital at the age of 36. The last words he said were:

"Money can't buy life."

Bob Marley was buried in Jamaica. The day of the funeral was declared a day of national mourning. The body of the great Jamaican musician was laid to rest in a mausoleum. The funeral took place according to all Rastafarian traditions. In the crypt next to him lie a Gibson Les Paul guitar, a soccer ball, a bunch of marijuana, a Bible and a ring that he always wore (a gift from an Ethiopian prince, the eldest son of Haile Selassie I).

The same ring on Bob's hand

Bob Marley was and remains an outstanding musician of our time. During his short life, he achieved a lot: he gained worldwide fame, created a special style of music, and became a symbol of the struggle for racial equality.

In 2012, the documentary film “Marley” appeared on the screens.

Bob Marley Quotes

"I have only one dream, that all people live in peace."
"I believe that racism, evil and hatred can be cured through music."
“I myself am nobody. All I have is God.”
“There is God in each of us, so we are not alone.”
"Free your mind from anger and wake up to life."

All Quotes >>> Bob Marley

• curious
• Once upon a time, before joining the reggae movement, a very young Bob Marley was a rud boy. Rude-boys are people who emphasize their contempt for danger.
• Bob Marley cannot be called an exemplary family man. And Bob Marley’s family relationship with Rita was not all smooth sailing. In the first years of their life together, Bob Marley worked a lot, which is why he rarely saw Rita. When popularity came to him, Marley toured constantly, and Rita and the children stayed at home.

Children of Bob and Rita Marley

On November 23, 1964, the youngest Sharon was born. Bob Marley was not her biological father; he adopted Rita's daughter from a previous relationship and raised her as his own. She was a member of the group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers.

Sharon (left), Cedella (right)

On August 23, 1967, Cedella was born (named after Baba's mother, their first biological child together. She began her career as a member of the group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, and is also the CEO of Tuff Gong International. She is also the author of children's books, as well as actress and clothing designer).

On October 17, 1968, David "Ziggy" was born, Bob's eldest son and frontman of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers. A five-time Grammy winner, Ziggy began his solo career in 2003. He is also a fighter for the legalization of marijuana.

David (left), Stephen (right)

Stephen was born on April 20, 1972. He is the fourth member of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers. Singer, songwriter and producer.

In 1974, a girl, Stephanie, was born. He is the director of the Bob Marley Foundation, the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong International, Tuff Gong Records, URGE and the Rita Marley Foundation.

Bob is the father of at least 12 children born to different women:

Stephanie (left), Robert (right)

Robert Marley - his mother Pat Williams. Robbie lived with Bob and Rita. Engaged in stunt motorcycle riding).

Rohan Marley - his mother Janet Hunt was Bob's friend. Played professional football in Canada. He is also a co-founder of Marley Coffee Corporation.

Rohan (left), Karen (right)

Karen Marley is the mother of Bob's friend Janet Bowen.

Julian Marley is the mother of Lucy Pounder. Plays music

Julian (left), Kaymani (right)

Kaymani Marley is the mother of world table tennis champion Anita Belneyvis. He is engaged in acting.

Damian (left), Bob and Cindy Breakspear (right)

Damian Marley - mother - Cindy Breakspear, winner of the title "Miss World 76". Reggae singer.

There are still people who claim to be Bob's children.

Bob Marley is an iconic musician from Jamaica, composer and performer of his own songs. His music is and has been popular all over the world.

Bob Marley

Bob married a young Cuban, Alfarita Anderson, at the age of twenty.

They met on the street, near the girl’s house. The young, unattractive musician saw her when he went to the studio to record songs. Alfarita sang with friends and Bob really liked her. After hearing this, he couldn’t help but invite her to his group. Since then, the couple has never separated.

Bob Marley marries Rita

An insatiable feeling immediately flared up between them and a long romance began.

Soon the lovers got married and began to live together. Bob began singing and recording records. His wife supported him in everything and helped him develop.

They even opened their own store at home, where anyone could buy a record of Marley's music. Alfarita was the guitarist's backing vocals all this time. The young couple went on all the tours together.

Bob Marley family

Bob's wife did everything she could for him, and after her husband became popular, she became nothing to him. He began to go on tour alone and found mistresses there. Each new girl was more beautiful than the previous one, since they were all models. Later, he began to take girls to his home, where, in front of his wife, he did whatever he wanted. But that's not so bad. Later, Bob's children from other women began to appear at home. This completely destroyed the family and Alfarita felt terribly humiliated and unnecessary.

Bob Marley

Even in those moments when Bob cheated on his wife, he demanded unquestioning obedience and fidelity from her. The girl was in a very humiliating state, but she still remained with her husband until her death and helped him. During the singer’s serious illness, his wife did not leave his side, she forgave him everything. Alfarita always loved Bob and considered him the most talented person in the world.

Bob Marley is a famous composer, extraordinary musician, and legendary singer of reggae songs. His songs are loved and known by heart by all fans of this musical genre. Marley became a kind of founder of this musical genre, and now, for many years after his death, he remains the most popular and famous performer of such songs in the world.

His image as a musician - a man with long dreadlocks, always wearing a Rastafarian hat, with an invariable wide smile on his face and a guitar in his hands - became the personification of reggae as it is.

Bob is from Jamaica. Born into the family of a hard-working European military man who arrived from the mainland, and a young indigenous woman from the island. Little Marley practically never saw his dad, because he was constantly on assignments and worked a lot. Bob's father died when the child was 10 years old.

The boy studied at a regular local school, and after completing it he began working as a laborer. As a teenager, Bob joined the ore-fighting subculture, which emphasized aggressiveness and romanticized crime. The external distinctive features of such young people are necessarily a short haircut or a shaved head, and tailored clothes made from suit fabric.

This movement also had a musical component - the youth of this wave “had a blast” at discos listening to ska (a type of Jamaican music). It is in this subculture and at this age that young Bob begins to try himself in music and tries to discover and develop his creative potential.

Music

Bob Marley conducted his first musical experiments on his own, but they were not very successful. In his youth, he became a member of a musical group, with whom he achieved his first recognition. His group “The Wailers”, created together with friends and like-minded people, has come a long way and transformed many times, changing its composition and positioning in the music arena, but in the end brought its creators first national and then world fame.

Bob released singles and albums first as part of the group, and then transformed it into his own author's project, Bob Marley and the Wailers. Together they toured throughout the United States of America, and then throughout the rest of the world (Europe, Africa, Asia).

In the USSR, Marley became popular already at the end of his life - the songs of the freedom-loving, unusual singer, who became the voice of an entire generation in his homeland, nevertheless passed through the “Iron Curtain” and made an indelible impression on the inhabitants of the Union.

The work of Marley and his group receives recognition among music critics - their albums and singles receive awards, and Marley repeatedly wins the title of “Best Singer”.

Marley's songs united a variety of people - both residents of disadvantaged areas of Jamaican cities and the “golden youth”. With his creativity, he gave people hope for the best, faith and all-forgiving and all-encompassing love.

His iconic song “One love” became the unapproved national anthem of the Jamaicans, it literally united politicians and groups who turned Jamaica into a battleground for their interests during Marley’s time. He wrote this song after an attempt was made on his own life - he was purposefully shot at.

Marley performed on stage and delighted fans with his work until his death.

Death

In the last years of his life, Bob suffered from a malignant disease - a tumor on his toe, which appeared as a result of an injury while playing the singer's favorite game - football. The composer refused to “take himself apart” and amputate his diseased finger, because he, like a real Rastafarian, had to die “in one piece.” As a result of a long, stubborn battle with cancer, the singer lost - he dies right during the tour, without having time to return to his homeland.

The last months of the singer’s life were extremely difficult - the prescribed treatment had serious consequences in the form of hair loss and weakened immunity. The irony is that the African-American leader Marley actually died from a disease that is common among the fair-skinned population. Marley was susceptible to the disease due to the fact that his father was white-skinned.

Personal life

Football truly held a special place in the singer’s heart. Bob's love for this sport was so great that the clause on mandatory access to the football field and ball at any time was written into his rider. And he was really good at this sport: playing as a defensive midfielder, he literally “glued” the ball to his feet; no one and nothing could take the ball away from Marley. He had many years of practice - Marley’s love, even passion, for this sport appeared in early childhood.

His wife Rita, who worked as a backup singer for Bob at the beginning of his career, went hand in hand with Marley all his life. Bob, still very young, once met a girl on the street who was walking and singing with friends. Her talent and appearance attracted twenty-year-old Bob, and he began to court her. A whirlwind romance began, the young lovers decided to get married.

At the beginning of Bob’s career, the couple lived in love and harmony, but with the advent of incredible popularity, the husband began to be at home less and less and began to have casual affairs more and more often.

Rita and Bob Marley had a large and friendly family - the wife gave the singer sons and daughters. All the children - and the Marley couple have four of them - are now in one way or another connected with music and other forms of creativity. In total, Marley has eleven children, not counting one adopted son.

Rita showed heroic traits, often raising both her own children and Marley’s offspring from affairs with other women. According to Rita, at the beginning of the relationship, Bob was a caring and loving exemplary husband, but over time he began to cheat on his legal wife. In his defense, he said that he wanted many children and simply did not want to bother Rita with numerous pregnancies. By the way, Marley dedicated his most popular song “No, woman, don’t cry” to his only legal wife. The woman admits that, although her relationship with Bob can be called normal with great difficulty, she has forgiven her ex-husband and keeps the most tender memory of him.

Numerous children of Marley pay tribute to their father’s talent by continuing his work. They perform, sing, create original musical projects or engage in other creative professions. In other words, they are all trying to leave a mark on history and make this world a little better.

Not long ago, one of the glossy US magazines published an issue with a photograph on the cover, which brought together all of Marley’s children and grandchildren in one frame. The photo became very popular on social networks and spread across the Internet. This became the meeting of the decade for Marley's descendants.

Heritage

There are a number of specific areas of life and general images that will forever be associated exclusively with Bob Marley. For example, it is his name that millions of teenagers and students justify their desire to smoke light narcotic herbs. After all, Marley himself openly admitted that he does this regularly. He could even afford to go on stage holding a joint in his lips.

The role that Marley played in the spread of Rastafarianism is invaluable. Followers of this faith snapped up his songs for quotes, and the singer himself was considered a messenger of their true faith. Marley's influence on the development of the philosophy of Pan-Africanism among a certain category of people was enormous. His contribution is incredible, he became an ambassador for this idea and truly changed the course of history through his actions and creativity. For this he was awarded several prizes and awards.

Despite the fact that Marley died in the last century, his work and life philosophy are still gaining more and more new fans. His photos are printed on mass market items and on items included in the collections of the first lines of world fashion brands. There are many people in love with Marley’s songs in modern Hollywood - singers and actress Eliza Taylor and many others.
Bob Marley's statements became catchphrases and expressions, and his last words - that it is impossible to buy life for a coin - became an aphorism.

Bob's parents were an 18-year-old black girl named Cedella Booker and a 50-year-old white quartermaster of the British Empire, Captain Norval Marley. They married in 1944, and a year later - on February 6, 1945, Robert Nesta Marley was born in the north of the island in St. Anne's Bay. The father, despite his love for his son, under pressure from relatives was forced to refuse to live with him, but he regularly sent money and tried to meet with Bob at least sometimes.

Already as a teenager, Bob and his mother moved to the capital of Jamaica - the city of Kingston, which was the golden dream of any Jamaican. Like all visitors, they had to live in a slum area - Trench Town, named after a drainage ditch that ran nearby. At the age of 14, he becomes a student of local singer and pious Rastafarian Joe Higgs. Marley began taking his first steps in the musical direction in the early 60s. He recorded a couple of singles (the first recording, “JudgeNot,” was made in 1962 at the studio of producer Leslie Kong), which, however, were not of particular interest...

Popularity came in 1964 when the Wailers' song "Simmer Down" entered the Jamaican charts. The core of the group was Bob Marley, Neville O'Reilly Livingston and Peter McLintosh (better known as Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh), who founded The Wailing Wailers in 1963. In addition to them, the group included Cherry Smith, Junior Braithwaite and Beverly Kelso, who stayed in it until 1966. Initially, the group was called “The Teenagers”, then - “The Wailing Rudeboys”, and only then - “The Wailing Wailers”. They recorded at a studio with the laconic name “Studio One” produced by Coxsone Dodd. Debut recording – “I"m Still Waiting.” The writing and recording of such compositions as “Let Him Go (Rude Boy Get Gail)”, “Dancing Shoes,” “Jerk in Time,” “Who Feels It Knows” also dates back to the same period. It" and "What Am I to Do". American radio had a huge influence on the guys' work, in particular, one of the New Orleans stations that played Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Brook Benton. The guys also listened carefully to the songs of black vocalists such as the Drifters - an extremely popular group in Jamaica.

On February 10, 1966, Bob marries the young singer of the Soulettes group, Rita Anderson, and... flies to the USA to join his mother (who, having remarried, moved in 1963 to Newark, Delaware). After living on the continent for only 8 months, he returns to Kingston and, full of new ideas, recreates The Wailers with Bunny and Tosh. In 1967, all three became seriously interested in Rastafarianism, which affected both their creativity and their relationship with producer Dodd. Having terminated the contract, the group recorded “Bend Down Low” on the Wail’N’Soul label itself, which ended its existence that same year due to financial reasons. To somehow stay afloat, the Wailers are writing songs for the American singer Johnny Nash, who gained international popularity with the Marlev song “Stir It Up.” The producer during this short period was Danny Sims. This continued until 1968, when the group began collaborating with the brilliant reggae producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry. Backed by Perry's band The Upsetters, the trio recorded numerous hits such as "My Cup", "Duppy Conqueror", "Soul Almighty" and "Small Axe". After these sessions, Aston "Family Man" Barrett and his brother Carlton Barrett, bassist and drummer for the Upsetters, who had an undeniable reputation as the most powerful rhythm section on the island, joined the Wailers, and in 1971 In 2009, the group founded another label, Tuff Gong. This was their last springboard before conquering the world - after all, despite their wild popularity in the Caribbean, the guys have not yet achieved international recognition.

During his stay in London (accompanying Johnny Nash on his tour), Bob looked at the Island Records studio, whose head, Chris Blackwell, was trying to attract the attention of Western Europe to Jamaican ska music back in the 50s. Having extensive connections in the music business, having released music by Jethro Tull, King Crimson, and Traffic, Blackwell could provide the Wailers with enormous opportunities in recording, producing and promoting. In turn, having heard about the popularity of the group in the West Indies, Chris understood that reggae could become extremely popular in the West. So in 1972, The Wailers and Island Records signed a contract.

The uniqueness of the event was that for the first time a reggae band had the opportunity to use expensive equipment, good instruments, and work with first-class sound engineers. Before that, reggae bands released only singles and cheap compilation albums. The Wailers were the first among their colleagues to release an album that was recorded and promoted according to all rock business standards. It was "Catch A Fire", which was released in 1973. As might be expected, it was not an instant hit, but the Wailers were talked about on both sides of the Atlantic, and Island Records sent the group on a UK-American tour. Arriving in London in April 1973, the Wailers spent three months playing clubs and establishing themselves as a great live band when Livingston announced his reluctance to play in America. His place is taken by Joe Higgs - the same one who taught young Marley to sing. The American tour was a mixed success: some concerts were sold out, while others had to be cancelled. Some of the concerts were given together with Bruce Springsteen, and several more with the very popular band Sly & The Family Stone in the USA.

Following “Catch A Fire”, the second album “The Wailers” was released in 1973, also with the “fiery” title – “Burnin’”. It included both new versions of old time-tested hits like “Small Ax” and “Put It On”, as well as completely fresh (but subsequently no less popular) “Get Up Stand Up” and “I Shot The Sheriff” - the latter became a worldwide hit. fame thanks to a successful cover (Eric Clapton), which reached number one on the American charts.

Marked by the work on the Natty Dread album, 1974 was the last for the classic Wailers line-up - in January 1975, Bunny and Peter announced their departure from the group, citing Marley's dictatorial habits. The latter decides to open a “family business” and invites the female trio “I-Threes”, consisting of Bob’s wife Rita, Marcia Griffiths and Juddy Mowatt, to replace the departed co-vocalists. The ensemble renamed Bob Marley & The Wailers and in February 1975 released the album “Natty Dread”, which included such masterpieces as “Talkin' Blues”, “No Woman No Cry”, “Revolution”, “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" and others. With a new line-up, the group goes on tour, gives sold-out concerts at London's Lyceum Theater, and meanwhile "No Woman No Cry" soars to the top of the British Top 40. Confirming their reputation as a first-class "live" band, "Wailers "in November they return to Jamaica, where they give a grand concert with Stevie Wonder, finally elevating themselves to the role of national and international heroes.

A year later, in 1976, Marley and company recorded “Rastaman Vibration”, where Bob fully expressed himself musically and semantically. In addition to such bright compositions as “Crazy Baldhead”, “Johnny Was”, “Who the Cap Fit”, the album contains one of Marley’s most poignant songs – “War”. Thus, in the mid-70s, reggae (thanks to Marley) finally found its niche in popular music.

Rastafarianism, promoted by the work of the Wailers, gained many followers among Jamaican youth, and Marley soon felt significant political power in himself. Trying to give a “conciliatory” concert on the island, he almost died from a bullet in his own home (December 3, 1976) and was forced to leave Jamaica for a long 18 months, which, however, were not in vain, but resulted in a new record under called "Exodus". Its release took place in the summer of 1977 and gave listeners the songs “Jammin’”, “Exodus”, “Waiting In Vain”, and its creator - new fame and 56 weeks in the UK charts.

In 1978, the group consolidated its success on the charts with the album “Kaya,” which reached number 4 within a week of its release. The singles “Satisfy My Soul” and “Is This Love” achieved the greatest popularity. In general, this year has become a year of social activity for Marley: in April in Jamaica he gives the One Love Peace concert, at which he reconciles government and opposition leaders, in the summer he is invited to the UN headquarters, where they are awarded the Peace Medal, and at the end of the year Bob visits Kenya and Ethiopia are the birthplace of Rastafarianism.

Based on materials from a recent European-American tour, the Wailers are recording a second live album (the first was released in 1976 and was simply called “Live”) called “Babylon By Bus”, and are also expanding the geography of their performances, playing concerts in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. As an active freedom fighter, Marley could not remain aloof from events in Africa, where former colonies, one after another, gained independence. His ninth album on Island Records, “Survival,” is dedicated to them; Here are just a few political compositions: “Zimbabwe”, “So Much Trouble In The World”, “Ambush In The Night” and “Africa Unite”.

At the beginning of 1980, the group gave a number of concerts in Africa for the first time, including at the independence ceremony of Zimbabwe. Such an honor given to the musical group once again emphasized the importance of “The Wailers” for the countries of the Third World. Around the same time, in May, the album “Uprising” was released, which immediately became a bestseller, including “Could You Be Loved”, “Work”, “Redemption Song” and many other equally wonderful songs. Being at the peak of its popularity, the ensemble gives a number of the most grandiose concerts in Europe, breaking all attendance records (for example, about 100 thousand people came to the performance in Milan). A large-scale American tour with Stevie Wonder was planned for the second half of the year. But these plans were not destined to come true...

In 1980, Marley's health deteriorated sharply - three years ago, while playing football, he injured his toe and developed a malignant tumor: then he refused to have his toe amputated due to religious beliefs. Now he had to go to a Bavarian clinic because the disease had affected his brain. However, the treatment did not help, and in early May 1981, Marley, realizing that he was dying, demanded to be taken to his homeland. But he did not have time to get there and died in a Miami hospital on May 11, 1981.

The day of his funeral, according to eyewitnesses, was the most mournful day in the entire modern history of Jamaica. National mourning was declared in the country. All leaders of the ruling party and the opposition attended the funeral ceremony. Marley's body was transported to his birthplace and placed in a mausoleum. He was 36 years old. A month before his death, he was awarded the Order of Merit, a government award in recognition of his outstanding role in the cultural life of the country. Marley left behind a huge number of fans and followers and a large number of songs. But most importantly, he left behind a message calling to “free your mind from anger and wake up to life.” And, perhaps, only in his case these words, worn out from frequent use by rockers, do not seem banal.