Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on the 6 February 1945. His birth place was Nine Mile St. Ann's Parish, Jamaica. His mother was an 18 year old Jamaican girl called Cedella Booker and his father was a 50 year old white Jamaican a (Marine, Captain) called Norval Marley quartermaster attached to the British West Indian Regiment. Not long after Marley was born his father left his family and went to Kingston, but he still occasionally visited and gave financial support. Marley’s father died when Marley was 10 years old of a heart attack in 1955 he was 60 years old. After his fathers death Marley and his mother moved to Kingston’s Trenchtown. At the age of 14 Marley quit school and worked in a welders shop.
Because Marley was half-caste he learned self-defence, as he was a target for bullies. He got respect for his physical strength, which is where he got his nickname Tuff Gong. At this time he met and became friends with Neville ‘bunny’ Livingston. They both had the same passion, music. Marley and bunny become pupils of a local singer and Rastafarian Joe Higgs. Both Marley and bunny met and become friends with Peter ‘ Peter Tosh’ Macintosh in a jamming session.
Marley desire to become a musician had him searching for any opportunity. Marley had help form a young but successful singer Jimmy Cliff.
After meeting Marley, Jimmy introduced him to a local record producer Leslie Kong. In 1962 Marley auditioned for Leslie and Leslie liked Marley vocals, so Marley recorded 2 records “ Judge Not ” and “ One more cup of coffee” these records did not do very good, but this did not deter him.
In 1963 Marley formed a vocal group with his friend’s Bunny and Peter Tosh they were called “The Teenagers” then called “The Wailing Wailers”. The Wailing Wailers released their first single, "Simmer Down", during the last weeks of 1963 on the Coxsone label. By the next January it was number one in the Jamaican charts, a position it held for the next two months. The group Marley, Bunny and Peter together with Junior Braithwaite and two back-up singers, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith were hot stuff. Over the next few years The Wailing Wailers put out about 30 recorders this properly established the group in Jamaica.
Marley's mother, Cedella remarried and moved to Delaware in the United States. Marley mother had save money and sent him a ticket to come to America .She wanted him to start a new life in the states. However before he moved Marley married a young girl called Rita Anderson on February 10 1966. Marley also adopted her daughter Sharon Marley. After marring Rita, Marley moved his family to States to live near his mother but only stayed long enough to raise enough money to finance his ambition, his music. Marley worked in a factory for nearly a year before moving back to Jamaica in October, he reunited his former group members Bunny and Peter. This is when they renamed the group form “The Wailing Wailer” to “The Wailers”.
At this time Marley was increasingly drawn towards Rastafarian. Marley’s music now reflected his new faith. Marley wife Rita was also a singer and had started a singing career. Rita had a big hit with "Pied Piper", a cover of an English pop song. In 1967 The Wailers stared up their own record label called Wail 'N' Soul. Also in this year Marley and Rita had their first child together, named Cedella Marley. They released a few singles from their label but as they were novice at this and the label soon folded. Shortly after that the group met Lee Perry who then got the group back on track. Lee Perry helped The Wailers to produce some of their greatest tracks such as “Duppy Conquerer", "Soul Rebel", "400 Years" and "Small Axe". In 1968 Marley and Rita had second child, there first son named David Nesta (ziggy) Marley.
Then in 1970, Aston 'Family Man' Barrett (bass) and his brother Carlton (drums) joined The Wailers. Now the group were known throughout the Caribbean but not internationally. As they were becoming more successful The Wailers decided to form another recorded label called Tuff Gong after a nickname of Bob Marley.
In summer of 1971 The Wailers met Johnny Nash. Who then invited Marley to go with him to Sweden and Europe. While In London Marley had got a record deal with CBS. Marley recorded "Reggae on Broadway" then in 1972 the rest of The Wailer arrived in London to help promote the new single, but when then arrived in London they found that they were out of money and stuck there. With no other option Marley went into Island records Basing Street studios and asked to see Chris Blackwell the boss, to see if he could get a record deal. Blackwell gave them a deal and they fly back home to produce their first album. Marley and Rita had another son named Stephen Robert Nesta Marley. Later that year their first album was released called ‘Catch a fire’, which was not an instant hit.
In 1973 the group went back to London to kick off their club tour around Britain, which lasted tree month. When they finished they returned to Jamaica and bunny refused to do the American tour so he was replaced by Joe Higgs there form teacher. But the tour was cut short as they were fired because they were more popular than the band they were opening for. The Wailers also released their second Island album, ‘Burnin’, an LP which included new versions of some of the band's older songs such as 'Duppy Conqueror', for instance, "Small Axe" and "Put It On" .
After getting back to Jamaica, The Wailers spent most of 1974 producing the third album with was called ‘Natty Dread’. Also Bunny and Peter Tosh left The Wailer to peruse their own solo careers. The group change their name once again calling themselves Bob Marley and The Wailers. Finally in 1975 there second album was released. The band was soon on the road again with new members.
In 176 the follow up album ‘Rastaman Vibration’ cracked the us charts that same year Marley decided to hold a free concert in Kingston’s national heroes park on December 5th 1975, this concert was to underline the need for peace in the slum in the city, but on the 3rd December gunman broke into Marley's house and shoot him thankful the would be assassins only wounded him and he still went on stage two days later and played a sets as a insult to the gunman that shoot him. Marley left Jamaica for about 18 mouths and went to London were he recorded his new album ‘Exodus’ which was released in the summer that same year. He returned to Jamaica in 1978 and preformed at the “One love peace concert” which was in front of the prime minister and the opposition Michael Meanly. Marley requested that Manley and Edwards Seaga his rival come on stage and shook hands, after this Marley was invited to the UN in New York to receive the organisation medal of peace, also that same year he was invited to Africa for the first time to go to Kenya and the spiritual home of Rastafarian Ethiopia.
The group had earlier tour round Europe and America where they has got their material for their second live album ‘Babylon by bus’.
In the summer of 1979 Marley released another album ‘Survival’ in the New Year the group made the African debut, which was at Gabon. Then they went to Zimbabwe were they played at the counties independence ceremony in April 1980. Marley later said that this was one of the biggest honour of his life. ‘Uprising’ their new album was released and was an instant hit. The group went on a major European tour the tour included a 100,000-capacity crowd in Milan, the biggest show in the band's history.
There were plans to for another tour of America accompanying Stevie Wonder but after Marley played 2 shows at Madison square gardens he was taken seriously ill. In 1977 two years before Marley had injured his big toe while playing football and was advised to have it amputated but he refused because of it went against his Rastafarian briefs. However later it soon became cancerous and Marley had to have an operation to remove the cancerous cells in Miami. Yet it still continued to spread by 1980 it had spread though out his body. Marley’s health was getting bad, but he still went on the road. The tour started with Boston followed by New York. During the New York show Marley looked awful and he nearly past out. On September 21 while jogging through Central park, Marley collapsed and was taken to the hospital. A brain tumour was discovered and doctors told Marley he had months to live. Rita Marley wanted the tour cancelled but Marley wanted to continue the tour. Marley played a memorable show in Pittsburgh but he was too ill to continue so the tour was ultimately cancelled. That would be the last time he would perform.
On 4th November Marley was transported to a Miami hospital where he was baptized Berhane Selassie (meaning the Light of the Holy Trinity in Amharic) in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In a final attempt to save his life he underwent Dr. Joseph Issels controversial treatment in a clinic in Bavaria, Germany. Also while in Germany Marley celebrated his 36th and final birthday. He fought the disease for eight months. The treatment was not working so Marley wanted to die at home. This would be a flight he would not finish. He died on Monday 11 May 1981 in a Miami hospital. Marley final words to his son David ‘ziggy’ Marley were ‘Money can’t buy life’.
A month before his death, Marley was awarded the Jamaican order of merit this was for the contribution to the countries culture. On May 21, 1981, the people of Jamaica gave the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley O.M. an official funeral. Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition out of respect attended his funeral. Marley was taken to his birthplace at Nine Mile where he now rests in a crypt. Marley rest with his ‘Gibson Les Paul’ (a football), a marijuana bud and a bible. Bob Marley was only 36 years old. But his legend will live on thought his music and his charities.
Bob Marley had a total of 13 children. Two adopted from Rita's previous relationships he had 3 with his wife Rita and had 8 with separate women.here is a list of them in order of birth
Bob Marley and Cheryl Murray
Imani Carole born 22 May 1963
Sharon, born November 23 1964 to Ritain previous relationship
Cedella born 23 August 1967
David "Ziggy" born 17 October 1968
Stephen born 20 April 1972
Robert "Robbie" born 16 May 1972
Bob Marley and Janet Hunt
Rohan born 19 May 1972
Bob Marley and Janet Bowen
Karen born 1973
Bob and Rita, Bob scecond adopted child
Stephanie born 1974.
According to Cedella Booker (Marley mother ) stephine was product from an affair that Rita had with a man called Ital.She was acknowledged as marley's daughter.
Bob Marley and Lucy Pounder
Julian born 4 June 1975
Bob Marley and Anita Belnavis
Ky-Mani born 26 February 1976
Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare
Damian born 21 July 1978
Bob Marley and Yvette Crichton
Makeda, born 30 May 1981