Bob Marley took reggae music from obscurity to mainstream and also brought the plight of his native country, Jamaica, to the public eye. He spoke from both experience and hope for the future. He was the first Jamaican to reach the level of stardom he did and continues to be considered higher than a mere man in his home country.

Robert Nesta Marley was born in rural Jamaica on February 6, 1945. His father was middle-aged and white while his mother was young and black. At 14, he left his home and went to Kingston to pursue a career in music. There he hooked up with singer Joe Higgs and released first single in 1962, “Judge Not.” A year later, he combined with singers Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Bunny Livingston, Cherry Smith and Beverly Kelso to make a group. They went through a few band names before finally settling on the Wailers. The original Wailers recorded 70 songs before dissolving in 1966 including, “I’m Still Waiting,” “Who Feels It Knows It,” “Dancing Shoes,” “Let Him Go” and “What am I to Do.” Marley, Livingston and Tosh soon came together again as the Wailers and released “Bend Down Low.” They released a many favorites in those years.

In 1973, the Wailers released Catch a Fire, their first album to make it to a release outside of Jamaica. They released Burnin’ in 1974. Livingston and Tosh left and Marley added the women of the I-Threes including his wife, Rita Marley. In 1975, they released Natty Dreads with the hit “No Woman No Cry.” They also had a Live! album from their performances of Natty Dreads. The next year came Rastaman Vibrations, the group’s first U.S. top 10 album. Exodus was released in 1977 and included well-known hits like “Jamming,” Waiting in Vain” and “One Love/People Get Ready.” Kaya came in 1978 followed by Survival in 1979.

Marley and the Wailers had reached critical acclaim by now and were selling out concerts all over. Unfortunately, their next album, Uprising, would be Marley’s last in his life time as the 36-year-old died on May 11, 1981. Many albums have been released since he died including Confrontation in 1983 and Legend in 1984. Marley left behind a legacy of music and also a brood of children from multiple women, many of whom became musicians. Traveling to Jamaica will show travelers the power that Marley still holds with the plethora of memorabilia.