Tribute to Robert Nester Marley

One of the most well known artist on the island of Jamaica and worldwide is "Bob Marley." I was recently in Atlanta and there was a Pan-African conference going on. I was in the elevator with several delgates of representing 10 African Countries. I got into a conversation with one of them and as soon as I revealed I was from Jamaica...WOW!!..they only thing they did not do is break into Reggae song.

So I decided to dedicate a page of my blog to Bob...ONE LOVE BROTHA BOB!!

Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley was born on February 6, 1945, at Rhoden Hall in St. Ann, Jamaica.
As a child, he lived at Nine Miles in St. Ann, but moved to Kingston with his mother while still in his early teens.
They lived in the Trench Town area and he attended several primary schools. Bob was sent to learn welding at the age of fifteen but gave this up for music, which he dearly loved.

In 1964 Bob teamed up with Neville Livingston (Bunny Wailer) and Winston McIntosh (Peter Tosh) to form the "Wailing Wailers".

The group experienced many difficulties and membership changes, but eventually settled and called themselves the "Wailers". They formed Tuff Gong Label in 1970, which marked a turning point in their career. Soon the Wailers' reputation had spread outside Jamaica.

After the breakdown of the group in 1974, Bob formed his own group "Bob Marley and the Wailers". His success was Phenomenal and he was acknowledged internationally as the world's best reggae music exponent.
At the peak of his career, and with many hits to his credit, Bob succumbed to cancer and died on May 11, 1981. Shortly before his death, the government of Jamaica awarded him the Order of Merit in recognition of his contribution to Jamaican music.

Two statues have been executed in honour of Bob Marley. One by Christopher Gonzales, located at the National Gallery of Jamaica and the other by Alvin Marriot, which stands in Celebrity Park close to the National Stadium.
Bob Marley's musical legacy was left in good hands. His widow Rita, a reggae singer in her own right, and their children, "The Melody Makers", continued to build on their rich inheritance to the benefit of Jamaica.