Bob Marley

Robert Nesta Marley, (6 February 1945 - 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by blending elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as forging a smooth and distinctive vocal and songwriting style.

Marley's contributions to music increase the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide, and made him a global figure in popular culture for over a decade.



In February 1962, Marley recorded four songs, "judge not" , "One Cup of Coffee" , "Do You Still Love Me?" and "Terror" , at Federal studios for local music producer Leslie kong. Three of the songs were released on Beverly's with "One Cup of Coffee" being released under the pseudonym Bobby Martell. In 1963, Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry smith were called the Teenagers.

They later changed the name to the Wailing Rudeboys, then to the Wailing Wailers, at which point they were discovered by record producer Coxsone dodd and finally to the Wailers. Their single "Simmer down" for the Coxsone label became a Jamaican #1 in February 1964 selling an estimated 70,000 copies. The Wailers, now regularly recording for Studio One, found themselves working with established Jamaican musicians such as Ernest ranglin (arranger "It Hurts To Be Alone" ),the keyboardist Jackie mittoo and saxophonist Roland Alphonso.

By 1966, Braithwaite, Kelso, and Smith had left the Wailers, leaving the core trio of Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh.