Money can't buy life. Juan S. Giraldo O.

Robert Nesta Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in the parish of St. Anns in Nine Miles, Jamaica to Norval Sinclair Marley and Cedella "˜Ciddy' Malcom. Norval was a British Marine officer and Ciddy was a native Jamaican. Soon after his birth, Bob's father left and had little contact with him although he did financially support his son. Bob Marley was ten years old, when his father died

In 1961, when he had sixteen released his first song, Judge Not, that did not do well. He continued to pursue a career in music and in 1965, he formed a group called “The Wailers” with Bunny Livingstone (later known as Bunny Wailer) and Peter McIntosh (later know as simply Peter Tosh.) Bob acted as front man for the group and wrote most of the group's material.

In 1966, Bob Marley married Rita Anderson, his long-term girlfriend. The next day he went to the United States and stayed long time to gain financing for his next record. The next year Bob and Rita's first child, Cedella, was born. Their next child, David (Ziggy) was born in 1968.

The Wailers continued to release singles without producing an album. The band formed another label, Tuff Gong, and finally reached a degree of success. By that time, the Wailers were famous in the Caribbean, but were unknown in the rest of the world. Finally in 1971, the Wailers got a break. Island Records forwarded them 8,000 pounds for the production of a full album. The Wailers were the first reggae band to receive so much money and to have access to the best. Bob Marley helped introduce reggae music to the world and remains one of its most beloved artists to this day
In 1977.

Bob Marley was diagnosed with cancer. He had sustained an injury on right toe which had never healed. But Bob Marley refused to go ahead with any amputation surgery as it was against the Rastafarian faith. Eventually the cancer spread to his lungs, liver, stomach and brain. Rastafarian faith also believed that smoking marijuana was an uplifting experience which would connect the human body to the divine. He continued to play on in concerts and recording albums.

Bob Marley died on the 11th of May, 1981 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida. He was 36. His final words to his son Ziggy were 'Money can't buy life'. As per his wishes, he was buried with his guitar, a soccer ball, a marijuana bud, a ring given to him by the Prince Asfa Wossen of Ethiopia and a Bible.

After his death, Bob Marley's reputation as a great singer and Rastafarian continued to add to his popularity and fame. Bob Marley received many posthumous awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 and the induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was revered by many as a 'prophet' for his religion. He propagated many thoughts including radical non-violent action. To put it in his words:

'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds...'