Bob Marley & The Wailers
About Bob Marley & The Wailers
Reggae’s most transcendent and iconic figure, Bob Marley, was the first Jamaican artist to achieve international stardom, introducing the music of this native island to corners of the globe. Backed by his all-star band the Wailers, Marley delivered classics in the ska era of the early 60s and invented roots music with 70s albums like ‘Catch a Fire’.
The singer-songwriter cut his first single ‘Judge Not’ in 1962, then in 1963 teamed up with fellow singers Peter Tosh, Bunny Livingston, Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith to form the Wailers (formally named the Teenagers/Wailing Rudeboys). The group signed with producer Coxsone Dodd’s legendary Studio One to record their debutalbum ‘I’m Still Waiting’.
Braithwaite and Smith later left the Wailers, Marley stepped in on lead vocals and their track ‘Simmer Down’ topped the Jamaican charts in 1964. ‘Let Him Go (Rude Boy Get Gail)’, ‘Dancing Shoes’, ‘Jerk In Time’, ‘Who Feels It Knows It’, and ‘What Am I to Do’ followed, recording 70 tracks for Dodd before disbanding in 1966.
In 1972, the re-formed Bob Marley and the Wailers signed to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records and launched their first album outside Jamaica ‘Catch a Fire’ whichearned worldwide acclaim. The follow-up ‘Burnin’ spawned the track ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ a Top 10 hit for Eric Clapton in 1974.
Following another line-up change (including his wife Rita Marley), the group released their breakthrough album ‘Natty Dread’, scoring their first UK Top 40 hit with the classic ‘No Woman, No Cry’. Sold-out shows at the London Lyceum led to the ‘Live!’ [KA1] later that year, and the success of ‘Rastaman Vibration’ (reaching the Top 50 in the Billboard Soul Charts) meant that Marley’s music had carved its niche within the pop mainstream. The group was listed as Rolling Stone’s “Band of the Year” 1976.
The singer permanently moved to London in 1977, Marley recorded the album ‘Exodus’ which incorporated elements of blues, soul, and British rock, generating iconic hits ‘Jamming’, ‘Waiting in Vain’, and ‘One Love/People Get Ready’; ‘Kaya’ was equally successful, highlighted with singles ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Satisfy My Soul’. In 1977, it was revealed he had acral lentiginous melanoma. ‘Uprising’ was the final album released in Marley's lifetime - he died May 11, 1981, at age 36.
In 1994, Bob Marley and the Wailers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the late singer’s legacy lives on.
I googled this to see if it needed a capital but I canny find anything at all on this - can you just dooooouble check if this is right or if it needs a cap? [KA1]
Where was Bob Marley from?
The legendary artist was born on February 6, 1945, in rural St. Ann's Parish, Jamaica. He left home at 14 to pursue a music career in Kingston, becoming a pupil of local singer Rastafarian Joe Higgs.
Who are Bob Marley’s children?
The late singer welcomed three children with his wife Rita Marley — Cedella, Ziggy and Stephen — and adopted her daughters Sharon and Stephanie from other relationships. He also had other children [KA1] during his marriage to Rita — Robbie, Rohan, Karen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian — all of whom have different mothers.
Why did Bob Marley move to London?
On December 3, 1976, Bob Marley was wounded in an assassination attempt and the ordeal forced him to leave Jamaica for over a year. He relocated to London, where he recorded his album ‘Exodus’.
What was Bob Marley’s real name?
Robert Nesta Marley.
