The name of their band, at the time, was “The Wailing Wailers.” By 1963, they released an album; “Slimmer Down.” The album was an automatic hit, putting the Wailing Wailers at the number one spot of the Jamaican charts for two months (bobmarley.com, pg.4.) Many saw the reggae music as tough, political, yet calming music.
Unfortunately, the band broke up, and Bob’s mother moved to the United States with her new husband. Before Bob could move to the states with his mother, he met a young girl named Rita, and soon married her in 1966. Soon enough, the couple went to America for eight months to support his music, and soon enough, Rita too had her own musical career. After returning home to Jamaica, Bob reunited with new and old band mates, and they formed “The Wailers.” There first album they put out together folded in 1967 (bobmarley.com, pg.4,) but the group survived. Soon enough, the band met up with Lee Perry, a very influential producer who helped them create songs such as “Soul Rebel,” which is a classic Marley song.
As more members joined the band, The Wailers still remained unknown internationally, but in Jamaica, they were a huge hit. In 1971, looking for national success, The Wailers went to Britain (bobmarley.com, pg.5.) Soon enough, they found Chris Blackwell; a British producer who gave them access to the best recording studios, and gave the band 4000 Euros to create an album. The Wailers’ first album; “Catch a Fire”, was breaking all of the rules of reggae music, and was the start of a huge success. Blackwell soon decided that the Wailers would tour not only in Britain, but also America.
In April, 1773, the group started their tour through Britain, in clubs and small venues. As they started to tour in America, they opened for a young Bruce Springsteen, and Sly & the Family Stone. During the tour, they were taken off the bill four times because they were often better than the headlining bands.
By late 1773, the band had already put out another album, “Burnin,” including versions of “Get Up Stand Up” and “I Shot the Sheriff,” which was remade by Eric Clapton (bobmarley.com, pg.5.) Soon enough, Peter McIntosh quit the band, and the band was renamed Bob Marley and The Wailers. The next album Bob Marley and the Wailers created was in 1975, called “Natty Dread,” followed by the 1976 album “Rastaman Vibration,” which dominated the charts. Also, there single “No Woman No Cry” brought reggae music into mainstream.
As his music became more famous, as he did too, Marley had a growing political importance in Jamaica. To thank his fans, Marley planned a free concert at Kingston's National Heroes Park on December 5, 1976 (bobmarley.com, pg.5.) The idea was to emphasize the need for peace in the ghettos of the city, where murder was not rare. Because Bob supported peace, and there was an upcoming election, gunmen went into Bob’s house and shot him. Luckily, he survived.
Although he couldn’t perform on the planned date, Bob decided to still play a brief free concert for his fans. Immediatley after playing in Jamaica, Bob moved to London in 1977 with his band to create the album “Exodus.” By the summer of that year, the album was out and it completely gained the band’s national popularity (bobmarley.com, pg.6.) Songs like “Exodus” and “Jammin’” kept the band on the UK charts for 56 weeks straight.
In the years to come, Bob played many influential shows, including the One Love Peace Concert in front of the Prime Minister Michael Manley and the Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga. He was then asked to go to the United Nations in New York to receive the Medal of Peace. By 1980, the Band had made yet another album, called “Uprising,” with popular songs such as “Could you Be Loved” and “Redemption Song.” After playing there European tour, with as many as 100,000 fans at one show, they started there American tour (bobmarley.com, pg.7.) Two shows into the tour, Bob Marley fell sick, and it was serious.
Three years earlier, he had cut his toe playing soccer, and it had become cancerous. Eventually, the cancer spread through his body, and he fought the disease for over 8 months. At one point, the cancer seemed to stabilize, but it came back once again, leaving him to die at a Miami hospital, on May 11th, 1981, just at the peak of his success (bobmarley.com, pg.7.)
On May 21st, 1981, Robert Nesta Marley was given an official funeral by the people of Jamaica (bobmarley.com, pg.7.) He was buried in his home town. Bob Marley may have died at age of 36, but his music and impact on society will never die, making him a true legend.
