**Early Life and Background**
Robert Nesta Marley, known globally as Bob Marley, was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. His parents were Norval Sinclair Marley, a white Jamaican of British descent, and Cedella Malcolm, an Afro-Jamaican. Growing up in rural Jamaica, Marley was influenced by the music and spirituality of his maternal grandfather, Omariah, a Myal. At age 12, Marley moved with his mother to Trenchtown, Kingston, where he met future bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.
**Formation of The Wailers**
In 1963, Marley, Tosh, and Wailer formed the Teenagers, later known as the Wailing Wailers, and eventually just the Wailers. The group's early recordings, such as "Simmer Down," became hits in Jamaica. During this period, Marley married Rita Anderson and briefly lived in the United States, working in various jobs before returning to Jamaica to focus on music.
**Rastafarian Influence and Musical Evolution**
Marley's conversion to Rastafari in the mid-1960s had a profound impact on his music and image. The Wailers teamed up with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, resulting in some of their most influential work. By the late 1960s, reggae had emerged as a distinct genre, and Marley's music began to reflect this change.
**International Breakthrough**
In 1972, the Wailers signed with Island Records, leading to the release of "Catch a Fire" and "Burnin'," which included hits like "I Shot the Sheriff." Eric Clapton's cover of the song brought Marley international recognition. The Wailers disbanded in 1974, but Marley continued recording under the name Bob Marley and the Wailers.
**Success and Challenges**
Marley's "Natty Dread" (1974) and the live album "Live!" (1975) featuring "No Woman, No Cry" solidified his global popularity. In 1976, after surviving an assassination attempt in Jamaica, Marley relocated to London. There, he recorded "Exodus" and "Kaya," which included hits like "Jamming" and "One Love."
**Political and Social Impact**
Marley was an advocate for social justice, democratic reforms, and the legalization of cannabis. His participation in the One Love Peace Concert in 1978, where he famously united political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga on stage, highlighted his role as a peacemaker.
**Legacy and Posthumous Recognition**
Diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma in 1977, Marley continued to record and perform until his death on May 11, 1981. He received numerous posthumous honors, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Marley's greatest hits album, "Legend," remains the best-selling reggae album of all time.
Bob Marley's music, infused with themes of love, unity, and resistance, continues to inspire and influence artists and listeners worldwide, making him a timeless icon of reggae and global culture.