Bob Marley Quick Info | |
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Height | 5 ft 7 in |
Weight | 64 kg |
Date of Birth | February 6, 1945 |
Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Date of Death | May 11, 1981 |
Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer-songwriter who died at the age of 36 in Miami, U.S. due to skin cancer. In his lifetime, he dated several women and married Rita Marley in 1966. Still married to Rita, he kept on dating other women and fathered many children after that. He was a member of the band “Bob Marley and the Wailers” and only released studio albums as a part of the band, the most famous album being Exodus (1977).
Born Name
Robert Nesta Marley
Nick Name
Bob Marley, Donald Marley
Age
Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945.
Died
Bob Marley passed away at the age of 36 years on May 11, 1981. He was suffering from skin cancer and was in Miami, Florida at the time of his death.
Sun Sign
Aquarius
Born Place
Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, British Jamaica
Nationality
Education
Bob Marley went to Stepney Primary and Junior High School.
Occupation
Singer, songwriter, musician
Family
- Father –Â Norval Sinclair Marley (Captain in the Royal Marines and Plantation Overseer)
- Mother –Â Cedella Booker (Singer, Songwriter, and Author)
- Siblings – Richard Booker (Stepbrother), Anthony Booker (Stepbrother), Claudette Pearl (Younger Half-Sister)
- Others – Edward Booker (Stepfather) (American Civil Servant), Albert Thomas Marley (Paternal Grandfather), Ellen Bloomfield (Paternal Grandmother), Omeriah/Amariah Malcolm (Maternal Grandfather), Alberta/Albertha Willoughby/Whilby (Maternal Grandmother), Skip Marley (Grandson) (Singer, Songwriter)
Genre
Reggae, ska, rocksteady
Instruments
Vocals, guitar, percussion
Labels
Beverley’s, Studio One, JAD, Wail’n Soul’m, Upsetter, Tuff Gong, Island Records
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 7 in or 170 cm
Weight
64 kg or 141 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Bob Marley has dated –
- Cheryl Murray (1961-1963) – In 1961, Bob Marley is said to have started dating English actress Cheryl Murray. Their relationship lasted about two years. It has also been claimed that Marley is the father of her daughter Imani Carole, who was born in May 1963. However, the official Bob Marley website doesn’t recognize Carole as Marley’s daughter.
- Rita Marley (1965-1981) – Marley started dating singer Rita Anderson in 1965. They got married in February 1966. Although Marley went on to have several affairs and Rita also had her dalliances outside of their marriage, they remained married till his death. After their marriage, Marley adopted her daughter, Sharon, from a previous relationship. During the course of their marriage, Rita gave birth to 4 children – singer and actress Cedella (b. August 1967), musician David Ziggy (b. October 1968), musician Stephen Marley (b. April 1972), and Stephanie Marley (b. August 1974). Stephanie’s patronage has been disputed by Marley’s mother, who claimed that she was the daughter of Rita and a man named Ital, with whom Rita had an affair. However, she has been officially acknowledged as Bob’s daughter.
- Janet Hunt (1971-1972) – In 1971, Marley started having an affair with Janet Hunt. Their affair lasted for about a year. During their affair, Janet Hunt gave birth to his son, Rohan Marley, who is a former soccer player and entrepreneur.
- Pat Williams – In 1972, Marley also had a sexual relationship with Pat Williams. She gave birth to their son, Robert Robbie in May 1972.
- Janet Bowen (1972-1973) – According to reports, Marley started dating Janet Bowen in 1972. They reportedly dated till 1973. Marley also fathered her daughter, Karen, who was born in 1973.
- Lucy Pounder (1974-1975) – Marley’s affair with Lucy Pounder started in 1974 and went on until 1975. This was another of his affairs, which resulted in him fathering one offspring. Lucy gave birth to Reggae musician Julian Marley in June 1975.
- Anita Belnavis (1975-1976) – Marley developed a special liking for the Caribbean table tennis champion, Anita Belnavis in 1975. Their affair came to an end in 1976. In February 1976, she gave birth to their son Ky-Mani Marley, who has earned his reputation as a hip hop and reggae recording artist.
- Anna Wintour – Marley is reported to have had a fling with Anna Wintour, who is best known for having served as the Editor-in-chief of the popular fashion magazine, Vogue, in the mid-70s. Wintour was introduced to Marley by Jon Bradshaw’s friend. She was dating Jon Bradshaw at that time. It has been claimed that she had disappeared with Marley for a week. However, Wintour has denied having an affair with Marley and has even insisted that she never met Marley. But on her appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, she claimed that she would have hooked up with Marley if she had ever met him.
- Cindy Breakspeare – In the late 70s, Marley was in a relationship with model and beauty queen, Cindy Breakspeare, who had been crowned Miss World in 1976. He himself confirmed their relationship by claiming in one of his interviews that she was one of his girlfriends. During his exile in England, he lived with Breakspeare, not with his wife Rita Marley. In July 1978, she gave birth to Marley’s youngest son, Damian Marley.
- Yvette Crichton (1980-1981) – At the time of his death, Marley was having an affair with Yvette Crichton. They had reportedly started seeing each other in 1980. After Marley’s death, she gave birth to a baby girl, Makeda in May 1981. Several sources claim that Marley is Makeda’s father.
Race / Ethnicity
Multiracial
He has English and Afro-Jamaican ancestry. It is also claimed that he has traces of Syrian Jewish roots on his father’s side.
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- His trademark dreadlocks hairdo
- Beard
Brand Endorsements
Bob Marley’s song was used in a “Visit Jamaica” commercial.
He himself was seen in an Adidas ad.
Religion
He was one of the most iconic and popular proponents of the Rastafari movement. He used to even start his stage show by proclaiming the divinity of Jah Rastafari.
Best Known For
- Being one of the most successful and popular reggae musicians. The worldwide sales of his records and albums stand at over 75 million.
- Being a global musical and cultural icon.
- The everlasting success and popularity of his singles such as Exodus, Waiting in Vain, Jamming, and One Love.
- The immense success of his studio album, Exodus, which remained on the British music charts for 56 consecutive weeks. It was certified as ‘Platinum’ 8 times in Canada and as ‘Gold’ in the US and UK.
First Album
His music group Bob Marley & The Wailers released their debut studio album, The Wailing Wailers, in 1965.
First TV Show
In 1973, Bob Marley made his first TV show appearance in the music TV series, Whistle Test, which was originally titled as The Old Grey Whistle Test.
Personal Trainer
Bob Marley relied on his love of soccer to keep himself fit. He often used to play with his friends in his backyard. Bob also ate healthily to keep himself in the right shape. He refrained from eating ice cream and commercial pastry. He focused on eating fish, grains, vegetables, and various porridges. He also had Irish Moss Blends, fruit juices, and nut shakes.
Bob Marley Favorite Things
- Soccer Club – Santos FC
- Soccer Player – Pele
Source – Wikipedia
Bob Marley Facts
- His collaborator Bunny Wailer was his childhood friend. They had started playing music together while they were studying at Stepney Primary and Junior High School.
- Later, Marley and Wailer started living in the same house after Marley’s mother started going out with Wailer’s father.
- In 1963, he was performing with Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Beverley Kelso, Junior Braithwaite, and Cherry Smith in the music group known as the Teenagers.
- They later decided to change their name to Wailing Rudeboys and then to Wailing Wailers. When they had switched to the latter, they were discovered by the music producer Coxsone Dodd.
- In February 1964, they released their debut single Simmer Down for the Coxsone label and the single managed to reach the top of the Jamaican music charts.
- In 1966, he briefly worked on the assembly line at a Chrysler Plant and as a lab assistant for DuPont after having moved to Delaware with his new wife to live near his mother.
- In the late 60s, after having moved back to Jamaica, he officially converted to the Rastafari movement and started growing his trademark dreadlocks.
- In 1972, he signed a recording deal with CBS Records and started the UK tour with his music band. He had also partnered with the American soul singer, Johnny Nash for the tour.
- In 1974, his band was signed up to open for Sly and the Family Stone for 17 shows of their US tour. However, they were fired after only 4 shows as they turned out to be more popular than the group they were supposed to open.
- In 1974, his music band “The Wailers” was disbanded as the three main members – Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Marley decided to focus on their solo work. It was alleged that they also had creative disagreements over their performances.
- In 1975, he managed to score an international breakthrough as his single No Woman, No Cry managed to feature very highly on the music charts all over the world.
- In December 1976, Marley, his wife, and his manager Don Taylor were attacked at Marley’s house by an unknown gunman. He had minor injuries on the chest and arms.
- The attack on his house was considered as politically motivated as he was going to perform at the free concert organized by the Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley two days later. Despite the attack, Marley decided to go with his performance.
- In 1976, he went to England, where he stayed for 2 years during his self-imposed exile from Jamaica. He recorded his iconic album Exodus in England.
- In 1978, he returned to Jamaica and marked his return by performing in another concert organized by Michael Manley as he sought to diffuse tension between his People’s National Party and their rival Jamaica Labour Party.
- In 1979, he released his politically charged album Survival in which he extended his support to the struggles of the African continent.
- In July 1977, the doctors discovered a type of malignant melanoma under the nail of his toe. The doctors advised to get his toe amputated but he rejected their advice, citing his religious beliefs.
- After he rejected amputation, the nail and nail bed were removed and the area was covered with the skin graft taken from his thigh.
- In 1980, his Uprising Tour was canceled after his health had worsened from the spread of cancer throughout his body. He went to Josef Issels’ clinic in Bavaria, Germany for an alternative treatment but his 8 months stay didn’t improve his condition.
- He was very vocal about his marijuana use and was a staunch supporter of the legalization of the drug.
- In 1968, he was arrested after he was caught using cannabis in England. However, he didn’t give up using cannabis, instead, he started getting it from Soothe CBD, which usually supplies people who use cannabis for health purposes.
- In 1978, Bob was honored with International Peace Medal by the African delegation to the United Nations for his ceaseless activism work to support the African community.
- Entertainment Weekly named him the 11th Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Artist of all time after having conducted a poll amongst its readers.
- Time magazine selected his studio album Exodus as the greatest album of the 20th century.
- He used late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie’s speech that he had given in the United Nations to compose lyrics of his song, War.Â
- In May 2001, BBC News online users voted him as the third greatest lyricist of all time after Bob Dylan and John Lennon.
- In 1980, he was the official guest at Zimbabwe’s independence celebration. He later claimed that this was the highest honor he had received in his lifetime.
- In 2006, the City of New York decided to rename the section of Church Avenue from Remsen Avenue to 98th Street in Brooklyn as Bob Marley Boulevard.
- He has been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at the iconic 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley who was the son of musician Stephen Marley and grandson of Bob Marley passed away in December 2022, at the age of 31.
- Visit his official website @ bobmarley.com
Note – His official website and social media accounts are operated by Bob Marley estate.
Featured Image by Ueli Frey / Dr. Jazz / CC BY-SA 3.0