50 Facts About Bob Marley

Posted on by CBSmag
  1. Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica.
  2. His full name was Robert Nesta Marley.
  3. Marley’s father was a Jamaican of English descent and his mother was a black Jamaican.
  4. Marley was a singer, songwriter, and musician, and is one of the most iconic figures in the history of reggae music.
  5. He rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as “No Woman, No Cry,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” and “Three Little Birds.”
  6. Marley was a Rastafarian, and his music often contained themes of social justice and resistance to oppression.
  7. He was also known for his advocacy of marijuana use and the Rastafarian faith.
  8. Marley was married to Rita Marley, and together they had four children: Cedella, David “Ziggy,” Stephen, and Robert “Robbie.”
  9. Marley was diagnosed with melanoma, a form of skin cancer, in 1977. Despite receiving treatment, the cancer had spread to his lungs and brain, and he died on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36.
  10. Marley’s albums include “Catch a Fire,” “Burnin’,” “Natty Dread,” “Rastaman Vibration,” and “Exodus.”
  11. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
  12. Marley’s song “One Love” was declared an official song of the United Nations in 2001.
  13. In 2002, Time magazine named Marley one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
  14. Marley’s album “Exodus” was named Album of the Century by Time magazine in 1999.
  15. Marley’s song “Redemption Song” was named Song of the Millennium by BBC in 1999.
  16. Marley was the first Jamaican artist to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  17. Marley’s music has been covered by artists such as Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, and the Fugees.
  18. Marley’s song “No Woman, No Cry” was inspired by his time living in a ghetto in Trenchtown, Jamaica.
  19. Marley was shot in an assassination attempt in 1976, but he refused to leave Jamaica and continued to perform.
  20. Marley’s album “Natty Dread” was the first album released under his own label, Tuff Gong.
  21. Marley’s album “Kaya” was named after a type of marijuana.
  22. Marley was a fan of soccer, and he owned a team called the Wailers FC.
  23. Marley’s song “Three Little Birds” was inspired by his mother’s saying, “Don’t worry about a thing, because every little thing is gonna be alright.”
  24. Marley’s song “I Shot the Sheriff” was written about the injustice he saw in the world.
  25. Marley’s song “Get Up, Stand Up” was written as a call to action for people to stand up for their rights.
  26. Marley’s song “No Woman, No Cry” was originally titled “No Woman, No Cry (Live Version).” The original version was recorded in a studio, but it was the live version that became popular.
  27. Marley’s song “One Love” was written as a message of unity and love.
  28. Marley’s song “Redemption Song” was inspired by a speech given by Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader.
  1. Marley’s album “Exodus” was released in 1977 and is considered one of his greatest works. It includes the hit song “Waiting in Vain.”
  2. Marley’s album “Babylon by Bus” is a live album recorded during his 1978 European tour.
  3. Marley’s album “Survival” was released in 1979 and includes the song “Zimbabwe,” which became an anthem for the African nation’s struggle for independence.
  4. Marley’s album “Uprising” was released in 1980 and includes the hit song “Could You Be Loved.”
  5. Marley was a member of the band The Wailers, which he formed with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.
  6. Marley’s mother, Cedella Marley, was just 18 years old when she gave birth to him.
  7. Marley’s father, Norval Sinclair Marley, was a 50-year-old captain in the British Army when Bob was born.
  8. Marley was raised by his mother and his stepfather, Omeriah Malcolm.
  9. Marley’s parents were never married, and he did not meet his father until he was 10 years old.
  10. Marley’s father died of a heart attack in 1955, when Bob was just 10 years old.
  11. Marley’s mother remarried and moved to Wilmington, Delaware, in the United States, leaving Marley to live with his aunt and uncle in Trenchtown, Jamaica.
  12. Marley was a talented soccer player and played for the national team of Jamaica.
  13. Marley’s song “Exodus” was inspired by the Biblical story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt.
  14. Marley’s song “War” was inspired by a speech given by Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia and a central figure in the Rastafarian faith.
  15. Marley’s song “Iron Lion Zion” was released posthumously in 1992.
  16. Marley’s song “Redemption Song” was released on his final album, “Uprising,” in 1980.
  17. Marley’s album “Confrontation” was released posthumously in 1983 and includes previously unreleased material.
  18. Marley’s album “Legend” is a greatest hits compilation that was released in 1984 and has become one of the best-selling reggae albums of all time.
  19. Marley’s song “One Love/People Get Ready” was performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
  20. Marley’s song “Three Little Birds” was used in a commercial for Google in 2013.
    Marley’s song “No Woman, No Cry” was used in a commercial for Sprint in 2014.
  21. Marley’s song “Could You Be Loved” was used in a commercial for Nissan in 2015.
    Marley’s song “Jamming” was used in a commercial for Apple Music in 2016.
  22. Marley has been the subject of several documentaries and biographical films, including “Marley” (2012) and “Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend” (2011).
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