Shortly after, Bob Marley and the Wailers hit the road for a world-wide tour. During this tour Marley injured his toe playing football. It was later diagnosed as cancer.
In April 1978, Bob returned to Jamaica to play the One Love Peace Concert. In attendance were Jamaican President Michael Manley and the leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga. Bob got them to get up on stage and even got them to shake hands. On June 15 he was awarded the Peace Medal of the Third World from the United Nations. This was a major development in the quest for peace in Jamaica. .
Bob Marley lost his fight with cancer in May 11, 1981 in a Miami hospital. He was internationally mourned for, and thousands and thousands of people showed up for his funeral on May 21, 1981. In attendance of Marley's funeral were both Jamaican President Michael Manley and the leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga. Bob Marley helped the country of Jamaica immensely to fight against poverty and oppression and after his death was awarded Jamaica's Order of Merit. .
Although it sounds like Bob Marley became popular very fast, it was actually a great struggle to get to the legendary status he achieved. Bob Marley grew up in a very poor neighborhood full of poverty and violence. Music was his only escape to the harsh reality that Kingston left him with. People from Kingston were forced to fight for survival and freedom. "Me don" love fighting but is better to die fighting for freedom than to be a prisoner all the days of your life" (Blackwell 1). The environment that Marley grew up in helped gave him the strength and power to fight through difficult times of violence and oppression. Not too many musicians had to overcome the odds that Marley did to make it in the musical profession. This is why I believe that Bob Marley is the single most influential musical artist of all-time. .
A lot of people would argue that Jim Morrison is the most influential artist of all-time because he is a poster boy for his generation.