b
Nesta Robert Marley, 6 Feb. '45, St Ann's Parish, Jamaica;
d 11 May '81, Miami FL) Singer, songwriter, guitarist and
bandleader in the Jamaican national idiom of reggae, his greatness
as a musician combining with transparent honesty and hatred
of violence to make him the only world-wide superstar the
genre has had. His mother was Jamaican, father English; he
read palms as a child, but began singing after spending a
year in Kingston at age six; moved there permanently '57,
growing up in the tough slum of Trench Town, where youths
became street anarchists, jobless in Eden because of the island's
primitive economy after more than 400 years of colonial rule.
He was an ordinary
mischievous child, mad about football, but unusually sensitive
and possessing an innate ability to lead others which he used
only unconsciously. Began playing/singing '60 with Bunny Livingston
(b Neville O'Riley Livingston, 23 April '47) and Peter McIntosh
(aka 'Tosh'; b Winston Hubert McIntosh, 19 Oct. '44; d 11
Sep. '87); both had began playing on home-made instruments.
Marley had a smoky tenor, Bunny a higher, keening voice and
Tosh a powerful baritone; they were infl. by Sam Cooke, Brook
Benton, the Drifters and the Impressions (with Curtis Mayfield);
Marley also later cited the infl. of Fats Domino, Elvis Presley,
country singer Jim Reeves, plus indigenous music developing
at the time (see Reggae). They took lessons from Joe Higgs
(of duo Higgs and Wilson); he was an infl. not only because
he insisted on correct harmonies but because he already wrote
songs about ganja (marijuana) and Rastafarianism before it
was fashionable; he also gave Marley tuition on guitar and
songwriting. Marley was at first turned away from Leslie Kong's
recording studio, just one of a gaggle of youths hanging around,
but was taken back by Jimmy Cliff and Desmond Dekker, making
his first record '62 ('Judge Not', written with Higgs's help).
The Teenagers,
aka Wailing Rudeboys, was a group incl. the trio, Junior Braithwaite
(lead singer, though Marley led the group), Beverly Kelso
and Cherry Smith; Alvin Patterson played traditional Afro-Jamaican
burru drums, aka 'Willie', 'Pep', 'Franceesco', later famous
as Seeco, the Wailers' percussionist. Seeco was an important
infl. from the beginning, but was also acquainted with Clement
'Sir Coxsone' Dodd: the first track for Dodd was 'Simmer Down'
'63, written by Bunny, backed by the Skatalites; Coxsone dubbed
them the Wailing Wailers on the instant nation-wide hit. The
ska beat was slowed down and became 'rude boy' music. Though
Braithwaite was the best singer his infl. waned; some of the
songs were bitter and loaded with politics, but there were
also interesting covers (e.g. the Beatles' 'And I Love Her',
Tom Jones's 'What's New Pussycat') and adapted versions of
songs by the Contours, Junior Walker, Bob Dylan and others
as Marley studied songwriting and the new world-wide politics
of youth at a time when Jamaica itself was a political maelstrom.
Despite sometimes having several hits in the Jamaican top
ten, the group was paid practically nothing by Coxsone.
In early '66
Marley married Rita Anderson, then went to Wilmington, Delaware
to stay with his mother, his name changed to Robert Nesta
on his passport; he returned to Kingston the same year, now
under the spell of Rastafarianism. Bunny's 'Rude Boy', Rita's
'Pied Piper' and other records had been hits; ska had evolved
further into 'rock-steady', relaxed and sensual, often with
'protest' lyrics as the Jamaican political scene heated still
more. The Wailers had made more than 50 tracks for Coxsone;
formed own Wailin' Soul label which failed; recorded more
than 80 demos for JAD (label operated by Danny Sims and Johnny
Nash), then ten tracks for Kong '69 released as Best Of The
Wailers (Bunny didn't like the title, telling Kong that he
would die; a year later Kong dropped dead at age 38). Marley
worked in the USA for a few months '69, returned again; the
group recorded for Lee Perry late '69--early '70, some sides
issued on their own Tuff Gong label (Marley's street nickname).
Perry's label Upsetter had the Upsetters as the house band,
led by bassist Aston Francis Barrett (b '46, aka 'Family Man'
or 'Fams') and his brother, drummer Carlton Lloyd 'Carly'
Barrett (b '50; shot to death 17 April '87 in Kingston, his
widow and another charged with murder), eventually merging
with the Wailers as rock-steady became reggae, still slower,
steeped in Rasta and ganja, its hypnotic beat and powerful
politics appealing around the world. Many fans felt that the
records made with Perry were the best of all: Tyrone Downie
(b '56) played keyboards on 'Trench Town Rock', no. 1 for
five months '71. Meanwhile Marley went to Sweden '70 with
Nash to work on a soundtrack (film/record never released),
then to London, joined by the Wailers, to play backup on Nash
album I Can See Clearly Now, with four songs by Bob. The LP
did well but Marley's single 'Reggae On Broadway' flopped.
At the end of
'71 the trio was broke, depressed, cold, homesick and in trouble
with the government over work permits; Marley went to Chris
Blackwell at Island Records and offered to make an album:
he gave them œ8,000. Even then, Blackwell later recalled,
it was not a lot of money for an album, but it was all gambled:
he had no idea whether they could do it or not, but he knew
who Marley was, having released his first UK single, 'One
Cup Of Coffee', leased from Kong. The band went home and made
Catch A Fire, released late '72 UK, early '73 in USA (by Capitol,
who did not promote it). Marley reserved Jamaican distribution
for his own Tuff Gong label. Released as Michael Manley became
Prime Minister of Jamaica by a landslide (despite censorship
of true Jamaican music on the radio, all the artists supporting
Manley), and as produced by Blackwell, it changed the direction
of reggae, giving rock fans something new to dance to and
a new kind of lyrical consciousness. Earl Lindo (b '53; aka
'Wire', pron. 'Wya') replaced Downey on keyboards; sextet
incl. trio and the Barretts. Next LP Burnin' '73 (originally
called 'Reincarnated Souls' but Bunny's title track was dropped)
incl. 'I Shot The Sheriff', covered by Eric Clapton (no. 1
USA, 9 UK '74; other Marley songs covered incl. Taj Mahal's
'Slave Driver', Barbra Streisand's 'Guava Jelly'). African
Herbsman '73 compiled Perry tracks incl. 'Trench Town Rock'
on Trojan, label formed by Blackwell with Lee Goptal and retained
by Goptal when they split up. Wailers toured UK, appeared
on TV's Old Grey Whistle Test; on returning to Jamaica, Bunny
left: a strict Rasta, he lost weight, was terribly homesick
on tour, never toured with the Wailers again. They toured
USA '73, Higgs subbing for Bunny, opening at Max's Kansas
City in NYC for a new talent called Bruce Springsteen; they
worked hard but met lack of understanding and not much money;
they were sacked while opening for Sly and the Family Stone.
Toured UK '73 without Higgs; Marley and Tosh quarrelled and
Wire left to join Taj Mahal: the first edition of the Wailers
was almost finished. Natty Dread '74 was a minimalist album,
powerful and full of moral authority; it incl. Marley, Carly,
Fams, Bernard 'Touter' Harvey on organ (too young to tour),
harmonies by Rita, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt, and Lee
Jaffe on harmonica, a fast friend of Marley who had taken
'Sheriff' to Clapton's bassist Carl Radle and who was the
only white person ever to play as a Wailer. The girl trio
was called the I Threes by Marley; Griffiths had single/LP
Young, Gifted And Black on Harry J with husband Bob Andy,
a hit in Europe.
Early versions
of Marley's 'Road Block' and 'Knotty Dread' were issued on
Tuff Gong in Jamaica and huge hits but not played on Jamaican
radio, historically operated by foreigners totally out of
touch with the island's music. Blues/rock guitar lines were
dubbed in UK by Al Anderson (b '53, NJ), who had worked with
Island artist John Martyn; he first heard reggae played for
him by Free's Paul Kossoff and played lead for the Afro-rock
band Shakatu, left to join new Wailers. The original trio
performed together May '74 in Kingston, opening for Marvin
Gaye, with Downey on keyboards: it was his first appearance
with the band outside the studio, and he joined the new lineup.
Marley prod. Escape From Babylon '75 by Martha Valez on Sire.
A Tuff Gong series of spots was a landmark in Jamaican radio.
US tour in June incl. Anderson, Downey, Jaffe and the Barretts
plus Rita and Judy (as the I Twos: pregnant Marcia stayed
home). Their popularity was growing. First reggae on US network
TV was 'Kinky Reggae' on a Manhattan Transfer TV show. They
were asked to open for a Rolling Stones tour, but refused;
in London in July Lyceum concerts sold out, recorded as the
fiery Bob Marley And The Wailers Live! Bunny, Tosh and Marley
last played together at Stevie Wonder benefit for blind Jamaican
children Oct. '75. The gentle Bunny changed his name to Bunny
Wailer and went his own way: albums incl. Blackheart Man '76,
Protest '77, Sings The Wailers '81 on Mango; the more volatile
Tosh's output incl. ganja anthem 'Legalize It', title track
of LP '76, then Equal Rights '77 on CBS, who then dropped
him; he toured opening for the Stones, released Bush Doctor
'78, Mystic Man '79 on their label, then Wanted: Dread And
Alive '81 on EMI. He was murdered by robbers in his home in
Kingston as his last album No Nuclear War '87 was released
on Parlophone.
Marley became
a superstar '76, in constant demand for concerts, endlessly
interviewed by journalists flooding into Kingston. Anderson
and Jaffe defected to Tosh (whose Legalize It also incl. the
rhythm section of Sly and Robbie). Rastaman Vibrations '76
incl. Earl 'Chinna' Smith on rhythm guitar, a session player
with his own Kingston band the Soul Syndicate. Don Kinsey
replaced Anderson: b in Indiana, had toured with Albert King,
recorded on Island in trio White Lightning with brother Woody
on drums, Buster Cherry Jones on bass. The new album disappointed
hard-core reggae fans but was his biggest hit ever; his only
top ten LP in the USA (incl. 'Roots, Rock, Raggae', his only
USA Hot 100 hit). He had got out of a contract with Sims when
signing with Island by yielding his publishing to Sims's Cayman
Music; now he did not take credit for all his songs, but spread
them among band and friends to keep money from Cayman. Asked
if the Manley government would try to use him he'd said that
only Rasta had the truth; now 'Rat Race' from the LP sent
up the politicians and was a hit on Tuff Gong. A date of 5
Dec. '76 was set for a free concert in Kingston: Tosh, Bunny
and Burning Spear were asked to join the bill; the Manley
government, whose socialism was floundering as the island
continued to heat up, announced an election for Dec. hoping
to cash in. Manley's People's National Party was opposed by
the Jamaica Labour Party, led by anthropologist, folklorist,
former record producer Edward Seaga. On 3 Dec. gunmen shot
up Marley's home, wounding several people incl. Bob, Rita
and Kinsey, manager Don Taylor most seriously; miraculously
no one was killed. Reasons mooted for the attack were political
jealousy, one of sidekick Skill Cole's scams gone wrong, Taylor's
gambling or Marley's scandalous affair with the light- skinned
Miss World, Cindy Breakspeare; but the incident was never
explained. Marley, Rita and Kinsey appeared in concert as
scheduled two days later, with Downey, Carly, Cat Coore from
Third World on bass, horns, and drummers from Ras Michael
and the Sons of Negus.
Marley went
to London to record; Blackwell had recruited Anderson and
Kinsey, now found Julian 'Junior' Marvin (b Jamaica, raised
in UK and USA; aka Junior Kerr, Junior Hanson), who had played
with T-Bone Walker, Billy Preston, Ike and Tina Turner and
Wonder, and made two LPs with his own band, Hanson. Exodus
'77 and Kaya '78 were recorded, the former incl. four-to-the-bar
'rockers' drumming (militant style the rage then in Jamaica)
and three songs about the attempted murder. Kaya was more
mellow, with dance and love songs. On a European tour '77
the Wailers played football with French journalists; Marley
injured his foot, the toenail came off and cancerous cells
were found: urged to have the toe amputated, he refused, had
minor surgery and seemed to recover. Despite increasing violence
he returned to Kingston early '78; a peace concert had been
organized, possibly by racketeers to calm down the slum youths
so that they could get back to business. Tosh was backed by
World Sound and Power, with Sly and Robbie. Ras Michael performed;
Marley got Manley and Seaga to shake hands on stage, but they
were uncomfortable. He then went on the most strenuous tour
so far: the USA (filled Madison Square Garden), Europe, Canada
and West Coast USA, with Marvin, rehired Wire and Anderson,
Downey, Seeco and the Barretts; Tosh guested in LA; tour album
was two-disc Babylon By Bus; he toured Asia, returned to Jamaica
to record new songs. He visited Ethiopia late '78, began working
on song 'Zimbabwe'; played Boston benefit '79 for Amandla
(amandla ngawetu, 'freedom for the people') for African freedom
fighters; his masterpiece Survival '79 incl. 'Zimbabwe', widely
covered in Africa.
His health began
to fail; he caught cold in NYC, felt better on West Coast;
visited Africa early '80, the trip marred by the discovery
that Taylor was a thief: Marley had never made a profit on
tour because Taylor skimmed it to finance his gambling. Last
album Uprising '80 gave up horns and rock sound in favour
of an African flavour; before its release the Wailers played
for Zimbabwe's independence celebrations in April, perhaps
the high point of his life. He was warned not to return to
Jamaica, where civil war seemed imminent, because he was still
seen as a Manley supporter and the CIA was supporting Seaga;
he toured Germany, but his health worsened: he died of cancer
without seeing his home again. Like Bob Dylan, he never sold
that many records, though five LPs were top ten in UK incl.
posthumous Confrontation '83 (tracks not previously released
outside Jamaica, released on second anniversary of his death)
and Legend '84, the last at no. 1); compilations and reissues
of early work have appeared on CBS, WEA labels, others; Chances
Are incl. 'Reggae On Broadway'. A new edition called Legend
'90 entered the UK charts on CD and stayed there for years;
it compiled his pop hits, and was followed by companion Natural
Mystic '95, with stronger political stuff; and there was a
four-CD limited edition Songs Of Freedom '92, all on Tuff
Gong/Island. The Real Sound Of Jamaica on Milan had '69--72
tracks by the original trio made at Eandy's, recorded by Perry,
some songs that became famous later but the originals never
bettered for power and beauty. Dreams Of Freedom '97 on Axiom/Island
had eleven tracks remixed by Bill Laswell, supposed to be
Marley-in-dub, but surprisingly insubstantial. Marley made
millions, but a lot was stolen and he gave a lot away; he
was criticized for driving an expensive car, but he could
park it in any slum in Kingston and no one would touch it.
He is still loved by millions; he preached, among other things,
that the only way black people could be superior to whites
was by refusing to practise their racism. With no father and
separated from his mother as a child, he had suffered loneliness
as well as poverty, but he wore no mantle later: 'I and I
don't have to suffer to be aware of suffering. So is not anger
and alla dat, but is just truth, and truth haffa bust out
of man like a river' (quote from Bob Marley by Stephen Davis
'83, a good biography). His son Ziggy Marley has become a
successful reggae artist.
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