Biography: Robert Nesta Marley was born in Nine Miles, in the parish of St. Anns, Jamaica on Feburary 6th, 1945. Cedilla Booker his teen mother became pregnant by Norvell Marley a white English plantation supervisor. Marley never knew his father.

Marley moved to the infamous Kingston inner city called Trenchtown in his very early teens. During his teens Marley met with Junior Brathwaite,Winston Mcintosh (Peter Tosh) and Bunny Livingston (Bunny Wailer.) They would practice singing and playing instruments together emulating the sounds of American R&B coming from the radio. They turned to Joe Higgs for musical tuition.

In 1962 Marley auditioned for local music entrepreneur Leslie Kong who released Marley’s first record "Judge Not", on Kong’s Beverley's label. The group then auditioned for famed Jamaican producer Coxone Dodd's and he recorded their "I'm Still Waiting" and "It Hurts to Be Alone" for his Studio One label with now World-renown guitarist Ernie Ranglin as arranger. Junior Brathwaite the original lead vocalist immigrated to Chicago, and in 1963 Marley sang lead on their first number 1 record "Simmer Down".

Other hits would follow, but Marley decided to join his mother in Delaware so that he could work and earn money to begin a record label. Before he left Marley married Rita Anderson on February 10, 1966. On his return to Jamaica Bob was introduced to the Rastafari. Bob regrouped the Wailers and they started ‘Wail-N-Soul’ records. 

The label folded shortly after in 1967 and Marley began writing for American singer Johnny Nash. Nash who hit big with Marley’s “Stir it Up” took the group to Sweden in 1971. They recorded “Reggae Broadway” for CBS records. Another singer, Eric Clapton would also enjoy success from a Marley penned song with “I shot the Sheriff” hitting #1 on the U.S. charts.

In 1971 the group signed to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records. Blackwell advanced the group advanced £4000 to record their first album “Catch A Fire.” By 1973 the group began touring the U.S. and Britain. They would continue to record several albums and tour the World spreading the message of Rastafari.

On May 11th, 1981 Marley passed away from cancer in a Miami hospital. He lays at rest in a Mausoleum in Nine Miles with his guitar in one hand and a bible in the other. His residence 53 Hope Road is now a museum. He is survived by 12 children from 8 different mothers. Several continue his musical works and two, Ziggy & The Melody Makers, and Damian Marley recieved Grammy awards.

One of the most recognizable faces on the planet, Marley is loved by people of diverse backgrounds and is regarded by many as a musical prophet. He was given a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a star on Hollywood Boulevard's walk of fame and a lifetime achievement Grammy award. His album Exodus was named by Time Magazine as the Album of the 20th Century, and the BBC called One Love the song of the Century.