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May 9, 2005 Thursday will mark the 25th anniversary of the death of reggae great Bob Marley. Marley once said of reggae, "I love the development of our music, that's what I really dig about the whole thing." Bob Marley has been called "Rasta Prophet," and in a career that spawned more than twenty years, became a spokesman for the downtrodden of the third world. He was born Robert Nesta Marley, February 6, 1945 in St. Ann’s Parish, Jamaica. His parents Cedella Malcolm (black), and father, Captain Norval Marley (white), a plantation overseer. His parents mixed marriage was frowned upon and they eventually separated. While Marley often sang of racial inequality, he said of his own heritage: "I don't have prejudice against myself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody's side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white." At 14 he began singing on street corners with youths who would make up the first edition of the Wailers. His solo career began with the lightly regarded singles “Judge Not” and “One Cup of Coffee.” He didn’t attain success until he Winston Hubert (Peter) McIntosh. and Neville Riley Livingston (later to become Bunny Wailer) formed the Wailing Wailers in 1964. The group also included Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso and Cherry Smith. Their first hit was "Simmer Down." This was followed by hits "Soul Rebel," "Duppy Conquerer," "400 Years," and "Small Axe" Between 1963 and 1967 the group recorded numerous singles, but were unknown outside of Jamaica. But with an assist from Johnny Nash (“I Can See Clealry Now”), The Wailers released “Reggae On Broadway”(1971), in London. The album was a UK success and in 1972 the group signed with Island Records. The first Island release was 1972’s “Catch A Fire.” The disc was produced by prolific duo Sly & Robbie (Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespear). The follow-ip album “Burnin’” contained the hits ”I Shot the Sheriff” (covered a year later by Eric Clapton—a hit that reached number 1 in the U.S.) and the reggae anthem "Get Up Stand Up." Marley’s politically charged lyrics won over Black youth in England, and influenced acts as diverse as Steel Pulse, The Clash and Elvis Costello. Three years later, Livingstone (Bunny Wailer) and McIntosh departed. The Wailers’ success continued with “Rastaman Vibration.” This was the first Marley lp to crack Billboard’s top ten, where it remained for three weeks. Marley’s fame grew with 1977’s “Exodus,” which included “Jammin’” (later covered by Stevie Wonder and Grover Washington, Jr.) This was followed by “Kaya,” which stayed on the UK charts for 56 weeks. Two more albums, “Survival” and my personal favorite, “Uprising,” which contained the freedom song, “Zimbabwe.” In 1966, Bob Marley married Rita Anderson and later converted to her religion Rastafari. At this time Marley began to wear his trademark dreadlocks. The religion espouses the idea that Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, is Jah (God) incarnate. However, near the time of his death he was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. According to Wikipedia, “The movement emerged in Jamaica among working-class and peasant black people in the early 1930s, arising from an interpretation of Biblical prophecy partly based on Selassie's status as the only African monarch of a fully independent state, and his titles of King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5).” With political unrest at home in Jamaica, Marley organized the Smile Jamaica concert (1976) to reconcile opposing leaders. People's National Party leader Michael Manley insinuated that he had Marley’s endorsement and days later a gunman broke into Marley’s home, shot and wounded him. Marley’s wife and manager Don Taylor were also wounded. In 1978 Marley performed at Jamaica’s “One Love Peace: concert and was joined onstage by Jamaican President Michael Manley and his rival Edward Seaga. That same year the United nations honored him with the Peace Medal of the Third World. With International acclaim centered in the Third World, Marley was invited to play concerts in Kenya, Gabon and at the Zimbabwe’s Independence Day Celebration (1980). In 1980 Marley was diagnosed with cancer of the liver, brain and kidney. By the time he sought treatment he was already in the terminal stages. He died at Cedars of Lebanon hospital in Miami on May 11,1981 at the age of 36. A month before his death he received The Jamaican Order of Merit, Jamaica’s third highest civilian award. He was buried in a state funeral. Marley’s sons, David (Ziggy) and Stephen, are internationally renowned reggae stars who perform as two-time Grammy winners Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. In-fighting was rumored to be the cause of the Wailers disbanding in 1974. McIntosh left when the groups producers refused to release his solo work. He shortened his last name to Tosh and had a successful solo career (“Equal Rights,” “Legalize It”),.until he was gunned down in 1987 at age 43. Tosh was murdered by gunmen in a supposed robbery, but nothing was taken. Many believe he was assassinated after being critical of Manley and Seager during a pre-performance speech at “One Love Peace.” Debut album “Legalize it” (1976) called for the legalization of “Herb” (marijuana), which he said provided everyday people solace from the stresses of the day. Tosh works focused on the injustice of the “shitstem,” (“Downpressor Man”) as he called it and he was often harassed by Jamaican authorities. “Equal Rights” (1977), “Bush Doctor” (1978) and “Mystic Man” (1979) followed. He joined the Rolling Stones’ label and released “:Wanted Dead and Alive” (1981), which was a more mainstream venture In 1987 he released “No Nuclear War,” and won his first Grammy for Best Reggae performance. Months later he was dead. Livingstone was born April 10, 1947. The percussionist recorded under the name Bunny Wailer and had a successful career, though he did not get the acclaim of Marley and Tosh. In 1976 recorded the critically acclaimed, “Blackheart Man” album. He won Grammies for Best Reggae Album in 1991 (“Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley”), 1995 (“Crucial Root Classics”) and 1997, “Hall of Fame: A Tribute To Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary”).. Today he resides on his farm in Jamaica. Sources: Bob Marley biography, Wikipedia Peter Tosh biography, Wikipedia Billboard Magazine www.bobmarley.com ------------ About the author: Timothy N. Stelly, Sr. is a 46-year old poet, novelist and aspiring screenwriter who resides in northern California with his three youngest children--Lawrence, Kimberly and Dante. He is a member of various writer's groups and has three novels in print, his most recent, "Like A Straight-Up Sucka," is available at www.lulu.com. website: http://stellbreadO@tripod.com Email: stellbread@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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