6-Feb-2009
Written by: Mic Mell

http://www.thecelebrityca...24439.html

The reggae giant would be 64 today.

Every once in a while, a musician comes along that captures the hearts and imaginations of the world. Bob Marley in one of those musicians who is timeless in his inspiration, and as popular today as he was 30 years ago. He may be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Robert Nesta Marley is an international ambassador for reggae music, Jamaica, and Rastafarianism. He was born today, February 6, 1945.

Though he has been gone from our world for 28 years, his legacy lives on, impacting people of all ages and cultures. His message of love, peace, and unity resonates through the world, and he is still one of music's most famous and beloved figures. Marley wrote songs that appealed to wide audiences, with universal messages about love, unity, and freedom.

He started The Wailers with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in the early 1960's, and they went through several band names and musicians from 1963-1966. Through the late '60's and early 70's, Bob worked with many musicians and producers, honing his sound. In 1973, he released "Catch a Fire" on Island Records, and in 1975, "No woman, No Cry" became his first international hit.

Bob Marley is still the world's highest-selling reggae artist, with countless hits, and the posthumous compilation album "Legend" has sold over 20 million copies.

Born in the small village of Nine Mile in the Jamaican countryside, Bob never knew his father, a white British Naval officer. During his life, Bob often confronted his mixed heritage, although it definitely added to his credibility.

He married Rita Anderson in 1966, and for the rest of his life, Rita was his partner, and as member of the backing singer "I Threes" that were part of the Bob Marley & The Wailers band. Bob fathered 11 children with different women, and Rita raised all of them as her own.

Bob is also known for his association with Rastafarianism, the religious order that believes that Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie was a human embodiment of God (Jah), and part of the Holy Trinity. Some Rastas claim they are descended form the lost 13th tribe of Israel.

While the religion has often been associated with its use of cannabis, it is actually centered around Pan-African unity and a rejection of western culture, known as "Babylon.

In celebration, here are some videos of Bob Marley's music and words.

Its very big here in New Zealand, February 6th is Waitangi Day, a day many Maori see as signing their independence away. Bob Marleys lyrics of independence, self determination, people power and collective communalism have always appealed to Maori like other disenfranchised indigenous peoples and therefore we see February 6th as a day of triumph. We have a raggamuffin festival held near the 6th every year in Rotorua featuring reggae artists both foreign and local. Many Maoris are rastafarians and they espouse the rastafarian ideals such as jah, ganga and people coming together. This year raggamuffin has Ziggy Marley performing and this time of the year is midsummer in New Zealand (Our February is your August), now its 32 degrees and clear and very hot.

Wow... Bob would've been 64! That's crazy right there.

Can you get your head around the fact that he's never won a grammy ... just makes awards a joke....well next year i hope they do something for him..

I thought this was a celebration? Then celebrate!

Love that Robert Nesta Marley. My pooch is named Marley.