Robert Nesta Marley OM (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter.
His musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style. Marley’s contributions to music increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide, and he remains a global figure in popular culture to this day.
Over the course of his career, Marley became known as a Rastafari icon, and he instilled spirituality in his music. He is also regarded as a global symbol of Jamaican music, culture, and identity, and his outspoken support for democratic social reforms was controversial. Marley escaped an assassination attempt in his home in 1976, which was thought to be politically motivated. He also advocated for marijuana legalization and Pan-Africanism.
Marley recorded four songs for local music producer Leslie Kong at Federal Studios in February 1962: “Judge Not”, “One Cup of Coffee”, “Do You Still Love Me?” and “Terror”. Three of the songs were released on Beverley’s, including “One Cup of Coffee,” which was released under the alias Bobby Martell.
Bob Marley House: Where did Bob Marley live?
Marley moved to Kingston in the late 1950s and lived in Trench Town, one of the city’s poorest areas. He was poor, but he found inspiration in the music around him. Trench Town had a number of successful local performers and was known as Jamaica’s Motown.
