00:00Bob Marley is the most famous figure in the history of reggae music and is the so-called first third world music superstar.
00:09Marley was not the first star of the indigenous music reggae, but he is largely responsible for it becoming internationally known.
00:18Marley was born in Nine Mile, St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, and lived in the rough Trenchtown part of Kingston.
00:25At the age of 18, he formed the band that would forever be associated with his name, The Wailers.
00:32The Wailers consisted of Marley as vocalist and guitarist, Bunny Livingston as singer and percussionist, and Peter Tosh as singer and guitarist.
00:43Livingston and Tosh would leave The Wailers in 1973 to pursue solo careers and would become reggae stars themselves.
00:52The band featured numerous other supporting musicians who came and went during the subsequent years.
00:59Guitarist Junior Mervin was a notable member during the final incarnation of the band.
01:05During the 1960s, The Wailers recorded a number of hit singles in Jamaica, including Simmerdown, Love and Affection, and an early version of One Love, the song that would become an international anthem in the 1970s.
01:20When these songs were released, the term reggae had been coined, and this jaunty dance music was referred to as ska, and was later dubbed Rocksteady.
01:32During the 1970s, The Wailers began to record albums on Upsetter Records with Lee Scratch Perry as producer.
01:42It was under Perry's direction that the band began to distinguish itself from its reggae competitors.
01:49In 1971, the band released its first classic album, Soul Revolution.
01:55Another classic album followed in 1973 with Catch a Fire, which contained the well-known Marley song, Stir It Up.
02:03By this time, The Wailers had been signed to Island Records.
02:06The following year, 1974, saw the release of Burnin', another solid effort containing the classic songs, Get Up, Stand Up, and I Shot the Sheriff, a song that would soon become a chart hit in a version by Eric Clapton.
02:23By this time, Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh had left the band to pursue solo careers, and Bob Marley was left in full control.
02:31Marley was beginning to attract international acclaim, aided greatly by Eric Clapton's success with I Shot the Sheriff.
02:39Marley would try to build on this foundation by adding rock, record production, and studio polish to his successive albums.
02:47But he never lost the gritty, soulful essence of his music.
02:52The Wailers' next four albums, Natty Dread, Live, Rastaman Vibration, and Exodus, would see Marley at the height of his creative powers.
03:05It was during this run of albums that Marley would achieve international stardom.
03:10Exodus, from 1977, is generally regarded as Marley's finest original album.
03:16With catchy songs, fine arrangements, and pop production values.
03:21Marley had practically made reggae a crossover genre with this album, by rendering reggae palatable to pop music fans.
03:31Exodus contained a bevy of classic songs, such as the song Exodus, Jammin', Three Little Birds, Waiting in Vein', and an updated version of One Love.
03:43Marley titled the album, Exodus, in recognition of his flight to Sanctuary in England, following an attempt on his life in Jamaica.
03:53Another fine live album, Babylon by Bus, followed in 1978, and then his final studio release, Uprising, appeared in 1981.
04:03Redemption Song, from the latter album, is especially haunting as it is the last song on the last album that Marley recorded.
04:13Marley passed away at age 36 in 1981.
04:17Marley passed away at age 36 in 2001.
04:17Marley passed away at age 36 in 2001.
04:17Marley passed away at age 36 in 2001.
04:17Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:17Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:17Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:18Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:18Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:18Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:19Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:19Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:20Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:21Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:22Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:23Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:25Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
04:25Marley passed away at age 37 in 2001.
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