The Story of Bob Marley and the Wailers
The Story of Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley is the greatest musician that a third world country has ever produced. His songs touched the lives of millions and his constant message of peace helped to shape Jamaica’s future. His breakthroughs in Reggae also helped in the formation of Rap and Rhythm and Blues. In the year 1944, Captain Norvol Marley married young Jamaican girl named Cedella Booker. On February 6, 1945 at two thirty in the morning their son, Robert Nesta Marley, otherwise known as Bob Marley was born in his grandfather’s house (The Story). Soon after Bob was born his father left his mother. Bob’s Father did, however give financial support and occasionally arranged to see his son. It was now the late fifties and jobs were scarce in Jamaica. Bob followed his mother from their home in St. Ann to Trenchtown (West Kingston) to seek employment in the big city (White). Trenchtown got its name because it was built over a ditch, which drained the sewage of old, Kingston (White).
In Trenchtown Bob spent a lot of his time with his good friend Neville Livingston, who people called by his nickname, Bunny. Also in the big city Bob was more exposed to the Soul music which he had loved, including such legends as Fats Domino and Ray Charles. Bob and Bunny attended a music class together that was held by the famous Jamaican singer Joe Higgs. In that class they met Peter Macintosh and soon became good friends. In the meantime Jamaican music evolved and became very popular throughout the Caribbean due to its invention of Ska music (White). When Bob was 16, he started to follow his dream of becoming a musician. According to Timothy White “Music to many young Jamaicans was an escape from the harshness of everyday life” (White). One of those kids was Jimmy Cliff who at the age of 14 had already recorded a couple of hit songs. After meeting Bob, Jimmy introduced him to Leslie Kong, a local record producer. Bob followed his advice and auditioned for Leslie Kong (The Story). Bob’s musical talents shone much more brightly then anyone else that day and found him in the studio recording his first single “Judge Not”. Unfortunately neither “Judge Not” nor his 1962 single “One More Cup of Coffee” did very well (The Story). Bob soon left Kong after she failed to...