Real Kings Don't Die: Bob Marley

In this life, in this oh sweet life we’re coming in from the cold. Indeed, we all are trying to find that place of warmth or more so comfort. That place where everything is good regardless of our circumstances and Bob Marley took us there through his music. True music is that of which musicians use their words to paint pictures, transmit movies, and give the listener an illustrious vision through mere speech. This is a direct description of what Bob Marley did with his music. There was love, righteousness, poverty, history, all conveyed through Marley’s music. He was his music; his beliefs, his way of life, everything that was in his lyrics was him. He taught us, brought his life to us from the love in his heart to the hardships endured by his people, preaching of togetherness. To say that he was just a musician and not a prophet would be an insult to his impact and influence. An impact and influence that has done nothing but grown abundantly since his death, making it certain that Bob Marley is a King and an Icon.

A King from Kingston. Marley was not born in the city of Kingston, Jamaica but that is where he discovered his love for music. Joining with legends (in their own right); Bunny Livingston (Bunny Wailer) and Peter Tosh the three formed The Wailers in the 1960’s. The Wailers grew as a very popular group in Jamaica, which marks the genesis of Marleys rise to musical fame. Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer broke apart from The Wailers in 1974 but Marley continued on with the name “Bob Marley & The Wailers” with new back up singers. He then garnered his first international hit “No Woman No Cry” in 1975 and his career ascended from this point on, producing multiple chart topping albums in the UK and going back to Jamaica to perform Peace and Political concerts. Despite his attempted assassination, that was believed to be fueled by political powers, Marley continued to live by the peace in his lyrics and continue to give back to his people.

Marley brought not only Reggae Music to the masses but himself to the masses. The content of his lyrics have touched many and is still doing so, from songs like Redemption Son and One Love and Rebellious songs like Exodus. To songs like War which are words from Haile Selassie’s speech to the UN calling for world peace. The world learned from him of the Rastafarian faith and what they stand for, their followings of great men such as Marcus Garvey and Haile Selassie King of Ethiopia. He was a soccer lover, quite stylish as well if we might add and unquestionably an icon. He gave of himself, in his realest form. Bob Marley touched the world in ways unimaginable and this is exactly why he is dubbed Forever a King.

(Above) Five of Marley’s sons are reggae musicians in his image, three of which are Grammy Award Winners. His legacy lives on!


Happy Birthday Robert Nesta Marley.