Bob Marley: Facts, Biographical Timeline, Quotes, and Resources

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Brief Bio of Bob Marley

On February 6, 1945, Bob Marley was born in the northern half of Jamaica just outside of a small town named St. Ann, in Nine Miles. His father was a white Naval Officer. Marley’s mother’s name was Cedella Malcolm Marley. Although she did have her son in wedlock, she rarely saw her husband because his parents disapproved of the marriage. The power of Bob Marley’s inspirational prose coupled with a mesmerizing beat within his raggae music will lead further generations in the struggle for the Jamaican people’s independence and the formulation of their unique identity. The tradition of the perpetually oppressed Jamaican people has found its voice through Bob Marley, his music and the legend he will continue.

Below you will find answers to questions such as how did Bob Marley die?, What did Bob Marley sing?, What disease did Bob Marley die from? and What island was the home of Bob Marley?

Timeline Of Bob Marley’s Life

February 6, 1945: When was Bob Marley Born? Robert Nesta Marley is born at Nine Miles, St. Ann’s, Jamaica. This birthdate is believed to be the correct although no birth certificate has ever been found.

December 1962: Marley, having left school at 14, and trained as a welder, is concentrating on music. He records two singles, ‘Judge Not’ and ‘One Cup of Coffee’ at a local studio by Leslie Kong.

1963: Forms the Wailing Rudeboys with Trenchtown pals, peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston; they are joined by Junior Braithwaite and female vocalists Beverly Kelso and Cherry Green.

January 1964: The Wailers’s first single, ‘Simmer Down’, reaches Number 1 in Jamaica’s JBC Radio Chart.

February 1966: Bob Marries Rita Anderson. The next day he leaves his new bride and their first child to head to Wilmington, Delaware, USA.

November 1966: Marley returns to Jamaica with some savings, setting up a record store in Kingston with Rita.

1967: Reunites with Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston, releasing singles on the Beverly’s label. Marley hooks up with American artist Johnny Nash.

1968: Composition (‘Stir It Up’) and Danny Sims, Nash’s manager, signs Marley to Nash’s JAD label.

November 1968: Marley has begun exploring Rastafarianism.

1969: Along with the rest of the Wailers, Marley fully embraces Rastafarianism. They link up with top local producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry on their newly formed Tuff Gong label.

1970: Debut Wailers album “Soul Rebel” released.

1972: After a difficult, though creative period, The Wailers, finding themselves alone in London and effectively left to their own devices by Johnny Nash and Danny Sims, sign with Island Records’s boss Chris Blackwell.

April 1973: Their debut release on Island is ‘Catch AFire’-heavily promoted bythe label.

July 1973: The Wailers appear at Max’s Kansas City Club in New York, opening for Bruce Springsteen.

November 1973: Second Island album “Burnin” released.

August 1974: Eric Clapton reaches Number 1 in the US singles charts with his cover version of Marley’s ‘I Shot The Sheriff’.

October 1974: “Natty Dread” released.

July 1975: The new Wailers play two classic dates at the Lyceum London, immortalised later that year on the album “Live!” from which a liver version of ‘No Woman No Cry’ is also released.

May 1976: The Wailers play the Roxy, Los Angeles-a concert later listed in Rolling Stone’s 1987 feature Live! Twenty concerts that changed rock’n'roll. “Rastaman Vibrations” released.

June 1976: Bob Marley And the Wailers headline a festival in Wales-20,000 people are expected, but because of heavy rain only 2,000 turn up.

December 1976: Gunmen break in to Marley’s home in Kingston during the Jamaican general election campaign.

Spring 1977: The Wailers are based in London, on and off, for three months while working on their next album, during which time Marley and Aston Barret are arrested and fined for possession of herb.

June 1977: “Exodus” is released-it reaches Number 8 in the UK album charts, later hitting Number 20 in the States.

September 1977: In Miami, a cancerous growth is diagnosed on one of Marley’s toes.

February 1978: The album “Kaya” is recorded in England: the single ‘Is This Love’ reaches the UK Top Ten.

April 1978: Bob Marley And The Wailers play the One Love Peace concert at Kingston’s National Arena-an attempt to link Jamaica’s feuding political parties.

December 1978: The second Wailers live album “Babylon By Bus” is released.

February 1979: The Wailers are the first reggae act to play at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, in front of a backdrop featuring an Ethiopian flag, a portrait of Haile Selassie, and a collage of Marcus Garvey and other black freedom fighters.

April 1980: Marley performs at Zimbabwe’s Independence Day celebrations.

July 1980: The single “Could You Be Loved”, taken from the album “Uprising”, reaches UK Number 5.

September 1980: During dates at Madison Square Garden, New York, supporting the Commodores, Marley collapses while jogging and Cancer is detected.

November 1980: Marley is baptized at Kingston’s Ethiopian Orthodox Church, marking his conversion to Christian Rastafarianism.

May 11, 1981: When did Bob Marley die? Marley dies at Miami’s Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, days after arriving. He is buried on 21 May after lying in state at the National Arena, Kingston.

Bob Marley Quotes

• “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold…”
• “Don’t worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright”
• “Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny.”
• “You ain’t gonna miss your water until your well runs dry”
• “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!”
• “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds Won’t you help to sing The songs of freedom?”
• “Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?”
• “Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality . Wake Up and Live!”
• “The good times of today, are the sad thoughts of tomorrow.”
• “One good thing about music, when it hits- you feel no pain”
• “None but ourselves can free our minds.”

List of Bob Marley Songs

400 Years
Africa Unite
All in One
Ambush in the Night
Bad Card
Blackman Redemption
Brain Washing
Buffalo Soldier
Burnin’ and Lootin’
Chances Are
Chant Down Babylon
Cheer Up
Coming In from the Cold
Concrete Jungle
Could You Be Loved
Craven Choke Puppy
Crazy Baldheads
Crisis
Cry To Me
Don’t Rock the Boat
Duppy Conqueror
Easy Skanking
Exodus
Forever Loving Jah
Freedom Time
Get Up Stand Up
Give Thanks and Praises
Guava Jelly
Guiltiness
How Many Times
I am going home
I Know
I Shot the Sheriff
I’m Hurting Inside
I’m Still Waiting
Iron Lion Zion
Is This Love
It Hurts To Be Alone
Jah Live
JailHouse
Jamming
Johnny Was
Judge Not
Jump Nyabinghi
Kaya
Keep On Moving
Lick Samba
Lively Up Yourself
Mellow Mood
Midnight Ravers
Misty Morning
Mix Up, Mix Up
More Axe
Mr.Chatterbox
Natual Mystic
Nice Time
Night Shift
No Woman No Cry
One Drop
One Love
Pimper’s Paradise
Positive Vibration
Punky Reggae Party
Put it on
Rastaman Chant
Rastaman Live Up
Rat Race
Real Situation
Redemption Song
Ride Natty Ride
Riding Hight
Roots, Rock, Reggae
Running Away
Satisfy My Soul
She’s Gone
Simmer Down
Slave Driver
Small Axe
So Jah Seh
So Much Trouble In The World
Soul Almighty
Soul Rebel
Soul Shakedown Party
Stand Alone
Stiff Necked Fools
Stir It Up
Stop That Train
Sun Is Shining
Survival
Talkin’ Blues
Teenager in Love
Thank You Lord
The Heathen
Them Belly Full (But We’re Hungry)
There She Goes
Three Little Birds
Time Will Tell
Top Ranking
Trench Town Rock
Trenchtown
Try Me
Turn Your Lights Down Low
Waiting in Vain
Wake Up and Live
Want More
War
We And Them
Who The Cap Fit
Why Should I
Work
Zimbabwe
Zion Train

Resources About Bob Marley

Official Bob Marley Site

Books about Bob Marley’s life

School Bob Marley School for the Arts Institute, Flamingo Beach, Trelawny, Jamaica

Interview Bob Marley A Final Interview

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