Robert Nesta Marley, more commonly known as Bob Marley, was the greatest and most influential reggae musicians of the 20th Century. His music did more than just make people sing and dance, it brought people together in a way that no one else could. His lyrics travelled the world, bringing peace and happiness to the most violent of places, and his legacy did end with his death. Bob Marley's music continues to touch the hearts and souls of millions of people worldwide and deliver a message of hope to all. His music openly discuses the cultural and political issues at the time and provides talking points to tackle the difficult subjects present in Jamaica in the 60s and 70s when political violence and racial discrimination were huge problems for Jamaicans. Bob Marley was fit to heal the country with his music because he was of no particular political party and was also abused because of his mixed racial background. Marley was also one of the most popular advocate of the Rastafari movement. He is truly extraordinary, and we will now explore his life, his music, and his legacy.
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in the village of Nine Mile, in the parish of Saint Ann in Jamaica to 18 year old Cedella Marley. (Sec 1, BobMarley.com). His father, Norval Sinclair Marley, also know as the Captain, of whom little is known, was not around much during Bob's infancy and died at the estimated age of 70 of a heart attack when his son was only 5 years old. According to the Gale Database, Norval was a British naval officer; however, information is unclear regarding Bob Marley's father, and there are many contracting theories about who he was and what he did. In 1957, Bob Marley and his mother moved to Trenchtown, an very poor part of Kington. Trenchtown in regarded as the largest hub for up and coming reggae artists in Jamaica. Trenchtown was one of many housing projects built for low-income residents of Kingston and was home many other reggae musicians.