Bob Marley Accomplishments

Although he may not have got to reach his full potential because of his death from melanoma at 36, Bob Marley’s legacy still lives on to this day. From being a poor child since birth to becoming a million dollar superstar, his life took a complete 180 degree turn. With his Rastafarian roots & tragic death, Bob’s journey was definitely one to follow and one millions will never forget.

Bob Marley is a name most people know but his accomplishments and dedication to music is often overlooked. Bob was more than just a reggae artist, he was an inspiration to the country of Jamaica. He was a role model to the poverty stricken island and gave hope to many people. Bob was born on February 6, 1945 in his grandfather's house. He was the son of a poor farm girl and a British naval Captain. Soon after his birth Bob's father, Norval Marley, left his mother. He remained responsible and provided financial support and occasionally came back to see them. In the 50's a depression hit Jamaica and Bob followed his mother to West Kingston also known as Trenchtown. It was in Trenchtown were Bob's love for music began.

The first communication concept relates to empathy and empathic communication, both Bob and Ziggy Marley display this throughout their music. Empathy defined by Julia T. Wood, “is the ability to feel with another person, to feel what she or he feels in a situation. Our feelings tend to be guided by our own emotional tendencies and experiences” (78). In the fullest sense, this implies putting yourself into the other person’s shoes, to experience their life, so that you really understand and feel; pain, anger, frustration, joy, spiritual uplift and happiness. Bob Marley is empathetic in nature, he is “someone who appears to speak for the people. It is his music, his life story, his worldview and the way he carries himself -- he seems like an extension of the people and their leader. He seems like a sort of Cultural Senator, a man who represents his people” (Toure 2017). Bob Marley expresses empathy throughout his song “Get Up Stand Up,” by giving us examples of what life was like in the 1960’s in Jamaica. Paying close attention to the words and the connotations associated with those words, we can get an idea to what was going on during that era. From the beginning, reggae was political, as the work of Bob clearly attests. When he chants, “Get up \ Stand up \ Stand up for your rights!” you can feel how important this issue is to him. By translating this one lyric, you can imagine the details of his experiences and the emotions associated with them. The lyrics of this song relates to the struggles and inequality of the society and the harsh realities of a post-independent Jamaica. Nearly the entire song has a political slant to it in some shape or form. The political unrest which was taking place at the time was extremely intense, this song urged people to raise and stand up and fight for their rights and to be proactive.

In the late 1950’s Marley’s family moved from St. Ann’s to Kingston, Jamaica. Before he moved Marley befriended Neville O'Riley Livingston or as he was called by his friends “Bunny.” Both had a passion for music and thanks to Bunny, Marley was inspired to learn how play his first instrument, the guitar. After moving to Kingston Marley, listened vastly to artist such as The Drifters, Ray Charles and Elvis Presley. In the 1950’s Bob Marley was living in one of the poorest towns which were referred to as “Trench Towns.” Marley chose to spend most of his time there studying and playing music along with Bunny Livingston under the mentorship of Joe Higgs. While in Kingston Bob Marley recorded his first single “Judge Not” recorded by Reggae producer Leslie Kong. During this time Bob Marley met, Peter Tosh who he eventually alongside Bunny formed a band and kick started Marley’s career as a singer and musician. In the late 1960’s Marley marries a women by the name of Rita Anderson, whom was also a

On February 6, 1945 in Saint Ann, Jamaica, Bob Marley was born. His father was a white Englishman and his mother was a black Jamaican. When Marley was ten years old his father died, and at that point his mother moved him to Kingston’s Trechtown neighborhood. As a teenager in Kingston he became friends with Bunny Wailer and this is when Marley learned to play music. When Marley was 14 years old he decided to drop out of school so he could learn the welding trade, and at the same time he spent his spare time jamming with Bunny and Ska musician Joe Higgs.

While many artists can reach the level of musical icons during their recording time, a few continue to remain relevant after they have died, and even fewer can touch peoples hearts and souls with as much power today as when they were alive, Bob Marley is one such artist. As Robert Palmer wrote for Marley’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “ No one in rock and roll has left a musical legacy that matters more or one that matters in such fundamental ways.” A few years ago while I was at a fast food restaurant, there were two women behind the counter, one younger and one older. While waiting for my order I overheard the younger woman confiding in the older woman about some life issues that she was going through at the time.

This essay is all about Bob Marley, how he used poetry with the use of tone and diction in the songs he had composed. To begin,he quoted “Love the life you live,live the life you love.” As it reflects to how you should be grateful with what you have now than what you dont have. Next, “One good thing about music when it hits you.” How music can give you things you can relate to the music and the person. Music can really hit at the moments you are feeling down or what not. Lastly, his quote “None but ourselves can free our minds.” It’s when we feel like nothing, feeling useless. This quote

It was very simple to play but the words were quite tough to put in to

“Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley,” is a biography that has been revised numerous times. The first publish date was as early as 1983. Moreover, there have been well over thirty printings, it is now 200 pages longer than the original and has been published in seven languages. The last revision by Timothy White was released 2000, additionally, “Notes on the New Edition,” was released in 2006 by Judy Garland.

Bob Marley was reggae’s foremost practitioner and emissary, embodying its spirit and spreading its gospel to all corners of the globe. His extraordinary body of work embraces the stylistic spectrum of modern Jamaican music - from ska to rocksteady to reggae - while carrying the music to another level as a social force with universal appeal. Few others changed the musical and cultural landscape as profoundly as he. As Robert Palmer wrote in a tribute to Marley upon his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “No one in rock and roll has left a musical legacy that matters more or one that matters in such fundamental ways.”

Bob Marley was born February 6, 1945 in St Ann Parish, Jamaica. Throughout his early years Marley had lived in some of the poorest and impoverished areas in Jamaica. Even in poverty Marley found an escape and had a passion for music. In Jamaica Bob Marley was a supporter of the People’s National Party. His major influence on the people was an extreme threat to the power of the PNP’s rival parties. December 3, 1976 there was an assassination attempt on Marley. This assassination attempt allegedly was for political reasons. A few years later Marley was diagnosed with cancer that had spread and he died in Miami, Florida, on May 11, 1981. The song “Get Up Stand Up” was the last song Bob Marley performed live on stage. It was performed in September of 1980 less than a year before he died in May of 1981

He was gave with the Bob Marley Award Entertainer of the Year 2007, in 2008 for his captivating performances. He also won the Best Calypso/Soca entertainer 2007 along with many others to follow. On May 2, 2010 he made history as the only two-time recipient (2008) of The Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year at Martins International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) held in Queens, New York.

Someone who has impacted not only history, but nations, music, and spirits world wide, is Bob Marley. Bob Marley is the founding face of reggae music. A man born to nothing and believes that life is his riches. That no amount of money could ever amount to someones soul. His motives were peace, equality, respect, and love for thy woman and man. That all races are as one. Not only did his motives and motto affect history, but his music did too. HIs music moved souls and spirits, preaching about love, kindness, children, intelligence, loyalty, family, god, nature, beauty, and everything that is positive that the world should be focusing on. His biggest impact on history was him on concert bringing the two opposing leaders of two different nations

In Jamaica at the time Bob was viewed as a mystic and prophet, and was

Reggae music was a big part of Jamaican culture. Many artists practiced the style of reggae and some of the artists like Bob Marley influenced and showed people internationally all about this music. It originated around the time that Jamaica was being attacked by European countries like Spain and native people being taken into slavery. Bob Marley was born after the time of slave trading but whites still effected the native people and this is how he got his inspiration for his music.