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Bob Marley Facts

Bob Marley Facts
Bob Marley was a famous reggae singer, songwriter, and musician who first became famous in his band The Wailers, and later as a solo artist. He was born Nesta Robert Marley to Cedella Booker and Norval Sinclair Marley, on February 6th, 1945 in Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica. Although he grew up in poverty, he surrounded himself with music and met some of the future members of The Wailers. Bob Marley became involved in the Rastafarian movement and this influenced his music style greatly. Bob Marley and The Wailers worked with several famous musicians before becoming famous on their own. His career flourished and he became a cultural icon. He was the first international superstar to have been born in poverty in a Third-World country.
Interesting Bob Marley Facts:
Bob Marley's father was a white British naval captain. He was 50 and Bob's mother was 19 when Bob was born.
Bob's father forced Cedella to name him Nesta Robert Marley. Several years later it was changed to Robert Nesta Marley when an immigration officer said it sounded like a girl's name.
Bob's father was not around much while he was growing up.
Bob Marley is rumoured to have been capable of reading palms and predicting their futures. At the age of seven he gave it up and declared his new love to be music.
Bob Marley was born and raised Catholic, but became a Rastafarian when he got older, following this way of life and beliefs until his death. Rastafarians follow strict faith beliefs just as any religion.
Bob Marley and his friends formed the group The Wailing Wailers in 1963.
Bob Marley married Rita Anderson in 1966. They would remain married until his death.
Right after marrying Rita, Bob Marley went to live in the United States to earn money, working at a Chrysler plant, and as a lab assistant at DuPont Chemical.
In 1972 The Wailers got their big break when they signed a contract with Island Records.
Bob Marley's friend Don Taylor managed him for many years. Bob eventually discovered that he was broke and learned that Don had been stealing from him all along. Bob beat him up and then fired him.
Bob Marley drove a BMW and claimed it stood for Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Although Bob and Rita stayed married until his death, it is rumoured that he had countless children out of wedlock.
While performing in Jamaica in 1976 someone tried to assassinate him for his work to support the People's National Party. He was shot and his wife was shot. They both survived.
In 1977 it was discovered that Bob Marley had cancer in his toe. He refused to have it amputated as it was against his religion.
Bob Marley's cancer spread to his vital organs and he died on May 11th, 1981 at the age of 36.
Bob Marley was awarded Time Magazine's Album of the Century Award in 1999, 18 years after his death. The BBC named his song "One Love" the song of the millennium. He has been given numerous awards for his music.
He was one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 75 million albums.


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