FREE ESSAY ON BOB MARLEY

BOB MARLEY

"Bob walked on to the stage in what I would later recognize as his inimitable saunter. It
was awesome to watch him immediately memorize the crowd with his presence. His guitar
slung over his shoulder, his Rasta locks flowing in unrestricted freedom, he generated a
raw power of personality that overwhelmed his worshipers. Sounding his opening refrain
"Hail Jah Rastafari!" and without another word he immediately launched into his opening
song, "Concrete Jungle," which immediately brought the crowd to its feet."
Robert Nesta Marley, was born on February 6, 1945. He was born in Nine Miles, Saint Ann,
Jamaica. "Bob was the son of a white man, whom he never met. His mother Cedella also left
him to be raised by his Granny Yaya and his grandfather, Omeriah." With his grandparents
he grew up in one of the poorest part of Jamaica named Trench town. I feel that this had
a major impact on Bob's life. In many of his songs he talks about Trench town. "Cold
ground was my bed last night and rock was my pillow too." As Bob grew older he spent less
time at his home with his grandparents. Instead he was out with his friends Bunny
Livingston and Peter Mackintosh. Together they did many things such as walk around town,
go to the beach, play soccer and probably most importantly write music. Together the
three were known as the Wailing Wailers. They soon had their first release, "Judge Not,"
in 1963, but the single had no true success until 1964. After Writing their first single
they began to experiment with their music, by slowing down the quick dance rhythms of
Jamaican "ska" music and soon after scored hits with "Simmer Down" and "Love and
Affection." Despite its early success, the group broke up in 1966. Peter and Bunny both
wanted to pursue solo careers. I think at the time this may have been a terrible thing
for Bob, but in the long run this helped him tremendously. He now knew what kind of beats
and rhythms the people wanted to hear and he was now free to write his own music. It also
gave him the opportunity to go live with his mother in the United States. Marley only
stayed for a short period of time though. He felt that he did not fit in and ended up
heading right back to Jamaica. After being back in Jamaica for several months he met Rita
Anderson, his soon to be wife. This would be one of the greatest things for Bob, but also
one of the worst.
Bob and Rita were soon married. Together they had two sons Ziggy, 
Stevie. They also had a daughter Cedella whom Bob named after his mother. I find it
interesting that he named his daughter after his mother since she was really never there
for him. I feel that was a very brave and respectable thing to do. Bob was a great
father. "Everyday Bob had his children picked up and driven to Hope Road. Stevie, Ziggy
and Cedella would arrive around two and stay until 6 or seven o'clock, spending time with
their father and watching him play soccer." 
By the late 1960s, Bob had formed a new band. The Wailers. "The Wailers consisted of Rita
Marley, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, Family Man Barrett on bass, "Touter" Harvey on
keyboards, Carlton Barrett on drums, Al Anderson on lead guitar, Alvin "Seco" Patterson
on percussion and Lee Jaffe, who played harmonica." The Wailers also along with being a
new band had a new producer by the name of Lee "Scratch" Perry. "Scratch was prominent
reggae producer had and through other smaller bands he gained a great measure of
prominence in Jamaica. He suggested to Bob that the group try a new type of music called
"rude boy", which is a slower type of reggae. The group soon had a number of hits,
including "Soul Rebel," "400 Years," and "Small Axe." After having these few hits Bob
discovered Rastafarianism. 
"From the mid-1960s, Marley and his fellow Wailers devoted themselves to a faith in
Rastafarianism, a religion centered around the belief that Ethiopian Emperor Haile
Selassie I (now deceased) was a divine being who would lead oppressed blacks to an
African homeland." One of my favorite songs Bob Marley "Exodus" speaks of this. "Exodus,
all right! Movement of Jah people! Oh yeah!" I find it interesting that a group of people
would actually want to pick up everything they own and move some couple thousand miles
away to a completely different country. Another crucial part of the Rastafarian faith was
the use of marijuana, or "ganja," as a kind of holy herb that brings enlightenment. I
find this to be very interesting. Being brought up Catholic, The church has taught me in
order to find enlightenment I must attend church regularly, pray, and help others. I
can't imagine becoming closer to my God by smoking marijuana. Bob Marley and The Wailers
often promoted the use of "ganja" with songs such as "Get Up, Stand up". "Most people
think, great God will come from the skies, take away everything and make people feel
high. But if you know what life is worth, you will look for yours on earth. And now you
see Jah light, stand up for your rights." The Wailers' music was fueled by their faith.
Many poor Jamaicans saw Rastafarianism and The Wailers' as a spiritual alternative to the
frequent violence and ghetto life. This is why many of the poorer people of Jamaica also
looked at Bob Marley as being a prophet. His music sent a message to the people that
everything was going to be okay such as in his song "Three Little Birds". "Don't worry
about a thing, 'cause every little thing, gonna be alright." This song is the Wailers'
most inspirational song to me. So many times when I have felt down, I put on this song
and my problems almost do seem to leave me. 
In 1972, the Wailers signed a recording contract with a London-based record label, Island
Records. Together Island records and The Wailers produced "Catch a Fire", which was the
Wailers' first album to be marketed outside Jamaica. "Catch a Fire brought the band's
artless lyricism and infectious rhythms to a wider audience and included such future
reggae classics as "Stir it Up" and "Stop That Train."" Their new album sparked a new
interest in many countries. These new interests soon lead The Wailers to embark on an
overseas tour in 1974. Also in 1974 Eric Clapton covered The Wailers' "I Shot the
Sherriff" bringing success to both artisits. 
Rastaman Vibration, the Wailers' new album released in 1976, was an even larger
international hit. This album was charged with Bob's political viewpoints. His viewpoints
were against the Jamaican government. While many agreeded with Bob's viewpoints, of
course many others disagreed. "On December 3, 1976, Marley was injured in an attack on
his home by several gunmen, suspected to be linked with Jamaica's right-wing Labor Party.
The attack was allegedly carried out in order to prevent Marley from performing at a
concert rally for then-Prime Minister Michael Manley, the leader of the socialist
People's National Party. Marley still performed in the scheduled concert (which was
attended by 80,000 people) but subsequently left Jamaica for a long period of
self-imposed exile." This shows Marley's devotion to the people and to his cause. I could
never see myself leaving my home country in order to support my political beliefs. 
Marley and the Wailers soon found success again after Bob returned from his exile. Their
new success was in the album "Exodus" which was released in 1977. "The album remained on
the British charts for 56 consecutive weeks." Once again in 1978 the Wailers released
another successful album "Kaya." "The band's packed touring schedule in 1978 included a
sold-out show at New York City's Madison Square Garden, which was recorded and released
as the highly acclaimed live album "Babylon By Buss". Another album, entitled "Survivor",
was released in 1979." I would have loved to have had the opportunity to see one of his
shows. I have heard the live album "Babylon By Buss" and I find it amazing and very
pleasant to listen to.
While being treated for a soccer injury in 1977, doctors discovered cancerous cells in
his toe. Marley injured his foot. Due to Marley's Rastafarian beliefs, he refused to have
surgery on his foot and continued to tour over the years. In 1980, Marley collapsed while
jogging in New York's Central Park; by that time, the cancer had spread throughout his
lungs and brain. Over the next eight months, Marley went through a series of radiation
therapy and treatments, but his health continued to decline. In April 1981, Marley was
awarded the prestigious Order of Merit by the Jamaican government. He later died in a
Miami hospital, on May 11, 1981 near his mother's home. Ten days later, he was given a
state funeral in Jamaica, attended by more than 100,000 people. 
In the years following Marley's death, controversy raged over his estate, which was worth
an estimated $30 million when he died. As Marley had not left a will, Jamaican law gave
half of his estate to his widow and the remainder to his children.
As Marley recorded such a volume of work, unreleased material continued to appear on the
market years after his death. In 1992, an album set containing 78 songs entitled "Songs
of Freedom" was released, featuring a display of his work from his first single to his
final concert performance in 1980. By a little more than a decade after his death, the
annual royalty income for Marley's music had increased to an estimated $2.5 million,
ranking him among the largest-selling recording artists of all time. In 1994, he was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Although Bob died at the early age of 36, he influenced the lives of many, including the
people of Jamaica, songwriters, and me personally. Bob Marley's essence continues to
flourish through his son Ziggy Marley who is currently making music based on his father's
ideals.