One Love - Bob Marley

Although suffered a premature death in May 1981 his influence was widely appreciated in the 80s as well as the 1970s. Possibly the most prominent non-western superstar Bob Marley born as Nesta Robert Marley in 1945 in Jamaica.

Reggae music had originated from the streets of south east Jamaica and became a global phenomenon as one of the most distinctive sounds of the 20th century. The sound and lyrics were based on spiritual music with the struggles of post colonial lyrics.

Reggae had its origins in Ska music in the 1960s and made a return in the UK in the late seventies with The Specials and The Selector. It also had an influence on ragga which saw the DJ talkers or Toasters as they were better known. The slowing of some Ska music saw the introduction of slower rhythms of reggae with a more brooding drum and bass beat. This saw the likes of Desmond Dekker, The Upsetters and Harry J All stars all make inroads into the UK charts.

It was however the introduction of the wailers and there singer Bob Marley that opened up the reggae market. Marley like many other reggae artists had converted to Rastafarianism in the wake of the visit to Jamaica in 1966 by spiritual leader Haile Selassie. Whilst they were working on the sound, The famous 'dub' sound was help popularised by another Jamaican legend Lee 'scratch' Perry who helped Bob Marley reach the global audience they deserved.

Bob Marley musical career was in two parts. Until 1974 he was the lead singer of the wailers, effectively a singing group from Jamaica which included Pete Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Then island records prompted a move to market Marley as a rock star and his ex-colleagues were replaced by a new band and within 3 years he was a global superstar. Marley worked with producer Clement Dodd and recorded a mix of ska tunes such as 'simmer down'. After working and living in the United States, he moved back to Jamaica, converted to rastafarianism and teamed up with Lee Perry and the success of 'stir it up' raised there profile.

The releases of 'catch a fire' and 'burnin' gave the band a foothold in the rock obesessed UK. Eric Clapton huge success with Marley's 'I shot the sheriff' paved the way for Marley's breakthrough single in 1975 'no woman, no cry'. In 1977 The release of 'exodus' and its tie in hit 'waiting in vain' saw Marley now a global superstar. With success increasing, his personal safety was a constant thorn and after an attempt on his life in December 1976 he remained in exile in Britain for 2 years.

The exile ended when he returned to Jamaicain 1978 for the One Love peace concert and Marley reasserted his political influence with the release of 'survival' in 1979, but after a European tour in 1980, the melanoma on his toe that had been first diagnosed in 1977 had grew critical and became cancerous. In May 1981 died in Miami on route to his spiritual home of Jamaica.

He was given a state Funeral and also the recipient OM the order of merit for Jamaica. His influence was worldwide and at the age of 36 another icon to leave early. Testament to that was 3 years after his death, the release of the Legend compilation sold 25 million copies worldwide and is easily one of the best selling albums and a must listen to album. In terms of singles One Love, buffalo soldier and keep on moving all hit the top 20 and the spirit of Marley still lingers and forever a legend.


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