Bob Marey is a legend around the world. But it was a long journey from the poverty of Jamaica to international success. When he was a boy in the 1950s, Jamaica was still a British colony. It became independent in 1962. The culture was a mix of African traditions and British cusroms, but there were few opportunities for Afro-Jamaicans. One of them was music!
Bob Marey and the Wailers.
Bob's mother was Afro-Jamaicans and his father was a white Jamaican of English descent. Bob left school at age 14 and stared playing in a group called the Wailers. In their songs, they "wailed" about the condition of Afro-Jamaicans. They were very popilar in Jamaica.
Reggae in the 1960s.
Reggae was invented in Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1960s. Bob Marley created his own style of reggae. His songs make us want to dance, but they have a serious message: they talk about fighting for freedom from oppression.
Success begins.
In 1972, the Wailers recorded their first album, Catch a Frie, and toured Britain and the USA in 1973. They were the support act for another group. But the Wailers were fired after four shows: they were more popular than the main group!
No Woman, No Cry.
In 1974, the original Wailers broke up, but Bob Marley continued recording with other musicans and kept the group's name. They had their first UK to 40 hit with the single ''No Woman, No Cry'', in 1975. People everywhere loved reggae.
The legend continues.
Bob Marley and the Wailers became superstars. They released eleven albums in less than ten years and continued to play around the world untiel Bob's death Today
, thirty years later, their music is timeless and universal. Bob Marley the legend is more popular than ever.
