Mr. Music

The sadly much too short story of the King of reggae, and some say, prophet, Bob Marley, began on February 6, 1945, in a small, almost utopian part of Jamaica called the parish of Nine Miles, when he was born to sixteen year old mother Cedella Malcolm, and father, Captain Norval Marley, a Middle aged, white Jamaican of the British West India Regiment. Here Bob grew in the secluded hills, he learned the methods of rewarding but back-breaking farm work along side his grandfather Omirah, a highly respected mystic healer, and elder of the community. Descended from a fierce tribe of escaped slaves, he would teach Bob the ways of rural life, along with ancient African life, the lessons of African folk lore, the history of oppression and the long lasting effects of 400 years of slavery.

At a young age he was kidnapped by his father, and left with an elderly woman in the the dangerous city of Kingston. After over a year of living pretty much on own, his mother, who was devastated by the loss, but never gave up the hope of being reunited with her beloved son, finally tracked him down and took him back to the country, but the bonds he had made in the big city would last a lifetime.

He would soon return to the streets of Kingston where he would attempt several odd jobs including welding, which ended with a serious eye injury. In 1962, encouraged by his friend Jimmy Cliff, Bob recorded his first song at Beverly's, a local record shop owned by Chinese/Jamaican business man Leslie Kong. The song that started the career of the musical legend was called, simply: "Judge Not".

During his short life, Bob would manage to survive growing up in the violent slums of Kingston, various political street wars, working in the cut-throat Jamaican music industry, an assassination attempt by his own people, an exodous, and skillfully navigating the damning pit-falls of Babylon during years of touring, but the hits would keep coming until Bob's human body succumbed to cancer in his mother's home in Miami in 1981.

Each passing day Bob's legend has only increased as his poetry reaches every continent and all types of people across the planet. Bob Marley worked tirelessly to ensure that wherever there are oppressed people, the message of Jah, hope, and love conquering evil would be heard and prevail.

Bob Marley, eternally jamming to the people.

This scan is tragic...