Bob Marley has made as big an impact upon popular culture as he has on music. He built a career from his days as a poverty-stricken youth to one of worldwide fame from his adoring fans and respect from his peers. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, his influence was obvious to see. One of the few true reggae artists to cross over into the mainstream with his band, "The Wailers", his image became synonymous with the aspects of his personality he was trying to portray though his music, freedom and spirituality.
His band was formed in 1963 then called "The Teenagers" and in fact underwent several name changes before sticking with "The Wailers". Three years later, the band reduced in size and in the same year, Marley married Rita Anderson. He worked at several jobs for a while until he returned to Jamaica where he became actively involved with the Rastafarian religious movement and we first saw the iconic dreadlocks.
The Wailers returned in 1973 but the reunion was short-lived after they broke up just one year later. However, partly due to Eric Clapton's successful cover version of "I Shot the Sheriff", Marley's music enjoyed a renaissance and he continued to record as a solo artist.
"Bob Marley & the Wailers", the latest incarnation of the many Wailers changes continued and had their biggest hit in 1975, "No Woman, No Cry". It was a personal song for Marley as he opened up on that lyric more than perhaps any other. They went on to achieve further success with albums such as Exodus and Babylon By Bus.
Marley's reputation grew as an icon of peace and spirituality. He was active in attempting to exert peace in to Jamaica and its warring political factions. His work is still considered to be a first-class example of activism, posthumously, he was inducted into The Rock Hall of Fame in 1994 and also received an award for the distinguished Jamaican Order of Merit citation.
His band was formed in 1963 then called "The Teenagers" and in fact underwent several name changes before sticking with "The Wailers". Three years later, the band reduced in size and in the same year, Marley married Rita Anderson. He worked at several jobs for a while until he returned to Jamaica where he became actively involved with the Rastafarian religious movement and we first saw the iconic dreadlocks.
The Wailers returned in 1973 but the reunion was short-lived after they broke up just one year later. However, partly due to Eric Clapton's successful cover version of "I Shot the Sheriff", Marley's music enjoyed a renaissance and he continued to record as a solo artist.
"Bob Marley & the Wailers", the latest incarnation of the many Wailers changes continued and had their biggest hit in 1975, "No Woman, No Cry". It was a personal song for Marley as he opened up on that lyric more than perhaps any other. They went on to achieve further success with albums such as Exodus and Babylon By Bus.
Marley's reputation grew as an icon of peace and spirituality. He was active in attempting to exert peace in to Jamaica and its warring political factions. His work is still considered to be a first-class example of activism, posthumously, he was inducted into The Rock Hall of Fame in 1994 and also received an award for the distinguished Jamaican Order of Merit citation.
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