Lee Scratch Perry built his fame with his amazing work behind the mic and behind the mixing board. In addition to his solo reggae performances, he also worked with a range of artists including the punk pioneers The Clash, hip hop pioneers The Beastie Boys, and Paul McCartney. Perry’s success led to more creativity and eccentricity: in the 1970s he created his own dub music studio, The Black Ark, which cemented his role as a progenitor of many great dub and reggae sounds, albums, and productions.

Lee Scratch Perry’s prolific output made him rich and famous, but Kingston, Jamaica’s streets were the scene of politically-motivated gang warfare. Lee Perry’s success shone a spotlight on him, and gangsters flocked to that light like moths to a flame: Perry was threatened and extorted by criminals and police alike, but the reggae artiste continued to create new works. Lee Perry formed The Congos, a Rastafarian reggae band, and created his magnum opus, Heart of the Congos, in 1977. Unfortunately, Island Records, Perry’s label, refused to release the spiritual work and his wife left him to carry on with a studio musician (taking Perry’s children with her). Shortly thereafter, The Black Ark mysteriously burned to the ground and Perry left for Europe.

After that rise and crash, Scratch Perry spent a decade in Europe exploring various substances and continuing his unrelenting creative streak.

Finally, Lee Scratch Perry gave up all toxic substances, became a vegetarian, and married a Swiss woman. He spent the 1990s rebuilding himself and his career, reemerging on the international reggae music scene. Most recently, in 2008, at age 70, Perry’s world tour included such diverse locations as the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Brazil, Japan, and New Zealand.

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UB40 visited the United States for their 2009 Labour of Love Tour, before returning to Europe and the UK later in the year. UB40′s US tour began on April 10 in Snoqualmie, Washington, and ran until May 8 in Glenside, Pennsylvania, including live reggae shows in 18 cities. Most of the tour venues were on the US West Coast, including shows on April 13 in Portland, Oregon, and on April 21 in Solana Beach, California. The tour also took UB40 up to Canada for a show on April 11 in Coquitlam, British Columbia.

UB40 also headlined South Florida’s SunFest, held from April 29 to May 3, 2009 in downtown West Palm Beach. Other bands in the lineup included Slightly Stoopid, 311, The Steve Miller Band, and others.

The penultimate US tour date was a May 7 show in Times Square, New York City.

They also performed at the Epsom Downs Racecourse on Thursday 30th July, as the grand finale of the 2009 Epsom Live! series of events, which featured a live outdoor concert after the last race.

Nick Blofeld, the Epsom Downs Racecourse’s Managing Director, praised their 2006 show at the same venue: “The atmosphere was fantastic with young and old enjoying UB40 perform their classic hits as the sun set across The Downs after watching some thrilling racing around the unique Derby course.”

UB40 is particularly popular in the UK, with their recent release, Love Songs, reaching #3 on the UK Album Charts. Love Songs was a 2009 issue of digitally remastered hits from the band’s past reggae albums. The 20 tracks on Love Songs were UB40′s favorite lovers sounds, including the hit singles I Got You Babe and (I Can’t Help) Falling In love With You. The album includes other UB40 favorites such as Please Don’t Make Me Cry, Homely Girl, Breakfast In Bed, and I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.

The full track list includes:

1. (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You
2. I Got You Babe
3. Kiss And Say Goodbye
4. You’re Always Pulling Me Down
5. Don’t Break My Heart
6. Please Don’t Make Me Cry
7. I Love It When You Smile
8. Homely Girl
9. Where Did I Go Wrong
10. Come Back Darling
11. Impossible Love
12. Dream A Lie
13. Tears From My Eyes
14. Breakfast In Bed
15. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight
16. Bring Me Your Cup
17. I’ll Be There
18. Gotta Tell Someone
19. Here I Am (Come And Take Me)
20. I Would Do For You

You can find more reggae love songs at the 80 reggae love songs… know any others? article.

UB40 formed in Britain’s West Midlands in 1978, eventually gaining global popularity as one of the world’s foremost reggae bands, delighting existing reggae fans and drawing new listeners to the genre with reggae hits such as (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You and Kingston Town. The original reggae band’s line up included Ali Campbell, his brother Robin Campbell, James (Jimmy) Brown, Norman Hassan, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers, Mickey Virtue, and Astro.

UB40 truly took off in the beginning of 1980, when the reggae band was invited to tour with The Pretenders. Drawing on their roots in Jamaican music, UB40 joined the Two Tone sound that had grown from Caribbean ska, rock steady and reggae and was then becoming popular in nearby Coventry, England. UB40 has released dozens of studio and live albums, their most famous song, 1988′s Red Red Wine, the original Labour of Love album, became a global hit, topping the Hot 100 chart.

UB40′s 8-member band lineup has remained active for over 30 years, drawing on their Irish, Scottish, English, Yemeni and Jamaican heritage for a truly global sound. Founder and former lead singer Ali Campbell left UB40 last year, and Mickey Virtue left UB40 shortly thereafter. Fortunately, they managed to finish the Twentyfourseven album (get it here) just in time to keep the original line up. Ali and Mickey Virtue were replaced with Duncan Campbell and Tony Mullings. Other members of the UB40 lineup include drummer James Brown, guitarist/vocalist Robin Campbell, bassist/vocalist Earl Falconer, percussionist/vocalist Norman Hassan, saxophonist Brian Travers, and vocalist/trumpeter Astro.

Despite an earlier press release from the band, indicating that Ali Campbell was leaving to pursue a solo career, the lead singer released a statement indicating that he had “been deeply unhappy with administrative practices and with many decisions that have been made in recent years.” He did soften his tone with closing well-wishes, concluding: “I know UB40 will carry on successfully without me and I wish them all the best.”

UB40′s new lineup released their next studio album Labour of Love IV in 2010. It was originally scheduled to be released in October 2009 but was a bit delayed. The band’s official website reported that it was all “business as usual,” and that “despite rumors to the contrary,” the band is moving forward making new music. Labor of Love IV was their first Labour of Love album since 1998′s Labour of Love III. UB40 began the Labour of Love series in 1983, with a #1 album and the hit single Red, Red Wine. In 1989 the group released Labour of Love II, which spawned a #4 single (Kingston Town) and 2 US billboard top 10 singles. Labour of Love III was released in 1998 and included the hit single Come Back, Darling.

Labor of Love IV continued UB40′s passionate love of reggae classics. Recorded at the band’s Reflex Studios in Birmingham in the spring of 2009, the album includes 16 tracks featuring covers such as Delroy Wilson’s Close to Me, John Holt‘s I Don’t Want to See You Cry and Man Next Door, Smokey Robinson’s Tracks of My Tears, and Sam Cooke’s Bring it on Home to Me. With Ali Campbell absent from the lineup, Labour of Love IV features lead vocals from his brother, Duncan Campbell.

The Labour of Love IV album release was followed by a UK/European arena tour in November and December 2009.

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• Is This Love, Could You Be Loved, Stir It Up, Turn Your Lights Down Low, Waiting In Vain, and No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley
• She’s Royal, the recent hit from Tarrus Riley
• Love Means Never To Say Sorry and No Disturb Sign the lovers rock classics from Beres Hammond
• All I Have Is Love, I’ll Get Along Somehow, I Need Your Love, Lonely Lover, My Number One, and My Only Lover by Gregory Isaacs
• Cherry Oh Baby by Eric Donaldson, later covered by UB40
• (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You by UB40
• Carpenter by John Holt
• I’m Asking For Love by Peter Scarlett, produced by Grub Cooper
• So I’ll Wait For You by Freddie McGregor
• Everything I Own by Ken Boothe
• On My Mind by Da’ville
• Here I Am by Chevelle Franklyn
• Beautiful Lady by Gyptian
• Love So Nice by Junior Kelly
• What Would, Love Is, and Longing For by Jah Cure
• I’m Still In Love With You by Alton Ellis
• And I Wanna Wake Up With You by Boris Gardener was one of Prince Charles’s wedding songs when he married Princess Di

You can also get your copy of Reggae Love Songs on Amazon. It’s a 2-disc set, so it’ll keep you busy listening to reggae well past Valentine’s Day. But hurry – it looks like supplies are running out.

Reggae Love Songs is a compilation of the best reggae love songs by various artists. It’s a compilation set from Trojan Records, originally released in 2003. The full Reggae Love Songs track listing includes 50 of the best Jamaican lovers rock songs, from the 70s and 80s. Some of the best tracks include chart topping singles from Ken Boothe, John Holt, Pat Kelly, Boris Gardiner, Tony Tribe, & June Lodge.

The track listing includes:

Disc 1 includes:

1. Silly Games
2. Help Me Make It Through the Night
3. The Bed’s Too Big Without You
4. Everthing I Own
5. Just When I Needed You Most
6. Good Thing (We’ve Got a Good Thing Going)
7. Hurt So Good
8. Cupid
9. You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) [Trojan Mix]
10. Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely
11. Breakfast in Bed
12. The Tide Is High
13. Angel (Of the Morning)
14. I Want to Make Up with You
15. You Can Wake Up with Me
16. Night Nurse
17. The First Time I Saw Your Face
18. Stop That Train
19. Girlie Girlie
20. Crying Over You
21. Smile
22. Sweet Sensation
23. Shy Guy
24. Red, Red Wine

Disc 2 includes:

1. Black Pearl
2. I’m Still in Love with You
3. Some Guys Have All the Luck
4. You Make Me Feel Brand New
5. Here I Am Baby (Come and Take Me)
6. Walk Away
7. Rain
8. Don’t Rock My Boat (Satisfy My Soul)
9. Unchained Melody
10. Dancing on the Floor (Hooked on Love)
11. Telephone Line
12. Hello Darling
13. Sweat
14. Money in My Pocket
15. Keep It Like It Is
16. Please Don’t Make Me Cry
17. Homely Girl
18. Tears of a Clown
19. Ain’t No Sunshine

And here are 50 more reggae love songs on Last.fm. What are other good love songs? Any artists on the site want to post a link to one of their own?

Peace,
Dm

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It’s basically a free ska reggae guitar lesson in under 10 minutes!

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The 30th Annual RaggaMuffins Festival promises a return of smooth reggae beats that have characterized past RaggaMuffins events. The RaggaMuffins Festival lineup includes many reggae music stars, including these artists on Saturday, February 19:

• Bunny Wailer
• Rebelution
• Gyptian
• Half Pint
• Horace Andy
• Leroy Sibble featuring The Lions
• Romain Virgo
• Etana
• The Green
• Quinto Sol

And on Sunday, Feburary 20, attendees can enjoy the music of:

• Freddie McGregor
• Israel Vibration
• Marcia Griffiths
• Gentleman
• Richie Spice
• Don Carlos
• Cornel Campbell
• I-Octane
• Kevin Isaacs
• Tosh 1

The RaggaMuffin Festival MCs are Amlak Tafari and Richie B, and the outdoor patio DJ’ing will be provided by Quantegy Sound.

Keep in mind that the lineup may change in the future and a final list of reggae artists and the order in which they will perform will be announced some time in February.

RaggaMuffins Festival 2011 details

• Saturday, February 19th and Sunday, February 20th, 2011
• Doors open at 12 Noon, Show Starts at 1 PM.
• Location: Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California. (directions here)
• Tickets: $38 and $55 in advance; $45 and $65 on the day of the show.
• Children 12 and under are FREE with a paid adult.
• Childrens Activity Space provided by R & C Productions.
• The International Ragga Muffins Food & Craft Fair will be available for food, beverages and crafts.
• Official website

RaggaMuffins 2011 tickets

Ticket prices are $38 and $55 in advance, $45 and $65 on the day of the show. You can get 2011 RaggaMuffins Festival tickets at all TicketMaster locations and the Long Beach Performing Arts Center Main Box Office. The Box Office is located at 300 East Ocean Boulevard and is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday from noon to 4pm.

ABOUT LONG BEACH CONVENTION & ENTERTAINMENT CENTER/SMG

One of the few ocean front arena and convention facilities in the country, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center attracts approximately 2 million people each year for conventions, trade shows, theater and sporting events. Managed by SMG, the Center offers state-of-the-art facilities including unique entertainment venues at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, which includes the Terrace and Center Theaters, as well as the Long Beach Arena. For further information on the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, please call (562) 436-3636 or visit www.longbeachcc.com.

Headquartered in West Conshohocken, PA, SMG provides facility services to over 200 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, performing arts theaters and convention and trade centers. With facilities across America, and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, SMG controls over 1.5 million entertainment seats worldwide and manages more than ten million feet of exhibition space.

Long Beach Arena rules

No check-in area for any prohibited item.
No smoking of any kind inside Venue.
No illegal substances Weapons of any kind or any item that can be construed as a weapon.
No outside food or beverages. (The only exceptions are for medical reasons or baby food.)
No tailgate gatherings in the parking lots.
All persons entering the facility are subject to search of their persons and belongings at the discretion of the Long Beach Arena.
All jackets, pockets and bags will be searched upon entry. Purses, diaper bags and other small personal bags areallowed, but will be inspected at all entrances.
No large bags, backpacks or boxes are allowed in the building.
Items confiscated at entry will not be returned to the owner at anytime during or after the event has concluded.
No cans, bottles, coolers or other similar containers. No video or audio recorders.
No laser pens or laser products.
Long Beach Arena / SMG reserves the right to make the final determination on prohibited items. In the event that prohibited items are revealed in a search, guests will be asked to dispose of the items or return them to their cars before re-entering the building.

Exiting and re-entering the building with the same ticket is not permitted. Exceptions are only made in the case of medical situations and emergencies.
Guests with medical emergencies or other emergencies who want to leave and then return to the building should be directed to the Security Personnel at each entry point. The ticket for the event must be produced and then scanned out for exit.

Failure to obey or follow Long Beach Arena smoking policies.
Use of illegal substances or drugs. Possession of illegal or unauthorized items inside the Arena.
Use of profanity or unacceptable language of any type.
Unacceptable or indecent dress.
Damaging or the intent to damage property of the Long Beach Arena.
Entering or attempting to enter any “off limits” areas such as backstage, dressing room area, or restroom of the opposite sex.
Participating in a fight.
Verbally abusing, threatening or intimidating other guests or Arena employees.
The throwing of any objects or projectiles in seating areas, on stage, on the ice surface or any other areas.

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Rasta colors appear throughout reggae music and the Rastafarian world in general, whether on Rasta flags, reggae clothing, or Bob Marley posters. Any long-time dub or reggae fan is likely to encounter them repeatedly.

The 3 Rastafarian colors each have symbolic meaning in the Rasta religion:

• Red, the color of the blood of the people and the Church of Triumphant (the Rasta church).
• Gold (sometimes simply yellow) for the wealth of Africa, the Rasta homeland.
• Green for the land and vegetation of Ethiopia, the promised land.

The Rasta color scheme – red, gold, green – is also the color scheme of Ethopia’s flag in the 1800s. At that time the flag also included the Lion of Zion, the promised land. Ethiopia is the promised land in the Rastafarian belief system; it Mount Zion, heaven on earth. Some Rastas interpret the need to repatriate Ethiopia as a spiritual, rather than physical, directive, and achieve it in part by surrounding themselves with Ethiopian colors and symbolism.

Black is sometimes cited instead of yellow in the Rastafarian color scheme – red, black, and green were the colors of Marcus Garvey‘s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Because Garvey is often cited as a Rasta prophet, it makes sense that his organization’s colors would be adopted. However, there are clear distinctions between Marcus Garvey’s empowerment movement and the specifics of the Rastafarian religion.

The Rasta colors symbolize not only strength but loss and longing: red is the blood that was shed by the martyrs throughout Rasta history, yellow is the gold stolen from the people, and green is the land to which Rastas hope to return.

Rasta colors have a strong tie to reggae music. Bob Marley made Rastafarianism popular throughout the world, and with it the Rasta colors red, gold, and green. The 1982 Steel Pulse album True Democracy includes the song Dub’ Marcus Say, which explained the colors. Here’s a video of Steel Pulse playing a similar song, Rally Round, live in Argentina.

Steel Pulse explains the Rastafarian colors with these lyrics:

Marcus say sir, Marcus say
Red for the blood
That flowed like the river
Marcus say sir, Marcus say
Green for the land Africa
Marcus say
Yellow for the gold
That they stole
Marcus say
Black for the people
It was looted from

Today, some take these Rastafarian colors to define an inclusive, expansive Rastafarianism, with red symbolizing the life blood of all living things, gold symbolizing all treasures that we cherish and enjoy, and green for the whole earth that we all share. But this definition reads as more of a New Age definition of connections than the more exclusive traditional Rastafarianism would seem to lend itself to.

Some Rastas claim the gold comes from the Jamaican flag, which is green, gold, and black. Others dispute this assertion, claiming that Jamaica is Babylon and therefore unholy.

It is also said that red always goes below the other colors because blood flows downward.

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The first thing you must know about me is that I always stand what I stand for. Good? The second thing you must know about yourself listening to me is that words are tricky. So when you know what me a stand for, when me explain a thing to you, you must never try to look ‘pon it in a different way from what me a stand for.

When Bob Marley passed away in 1981 the world mourned the loss of reggae’s loudest voice. These Bob Marley quotes include many of his famous statements, from his reggae songs, interviews, and musings.

• A hungry mob is an angry mob.
  From Them Belly Full (But We Hungry), on Natty Dread (1974)
• A little wine sometimes, that’s all. Spirits bad. Alcohol wrong. Herb does grow.
• But my hand was made strong by the hand of the Almighty.
• Destruction of the poor is poverty. Destruction of the soul is vanity.
  From Wisdom
• Don’t forget your history nor your destiny.
• Don’t gain the world and lose your soul
  From Zion Train
• Don’t let them fool ya or even try to school ya.
• Don’t worry about a thing, ‘cos every little thing is gonna be alright.
  From Three Little Birds, on Exodus (1977)
• Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind.
  From Redemption Song on Uprising (1979)
• Excuse me while I light my spliff, good God I gotta get a lift
  From Easy Skanking on Kaya (1978)
• Every day the bucket a-go a well, one day the bottom a-go drop out.
  From I Shot The Sheriff, on Burnin’ (1973)
• Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny.
• Facts an’ facts, an’ t’ings an t’ings: dem’s all a lotta fockin’ bullshit. Hear me! Dere is no truth but de one truth, an’ that is the truth of Jah Rastafari.
• Free speech carries with it some freedom to listen.
• Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don’t give up the fight.
• Have no fear for atomic energy, ’cause none of them can stop the time.
  From Redemption Song on Uprising (1979)
• Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.
• Hey, Mister Music, you sure sound good to me! I can’t refuse it what to be got to be.
  From Rainbow Country and Roots, Rock, Reggae on Rastaman Vibration
• How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man, yeah to see the unification of all Africans.
• How long will they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?
• I believe in freedom for everyone, not just the black man.
• I don’t stand for the black man’s side, I don’ t stand for the white man’s side. I stand for God’s side.
• If I am guilty I will pay.
• If puss and dog can get together, why cant we love one another?
• If you get down and quarrel everyday, you’re saying prayers to the devil, I say.
• In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty!
  From Rat Race on Rastaman Vibration (1976)
• In this bright future you can’t forget your past.
• It takes a revolution to make a solution.
  From Revolution on Natty Dread (1974)
• I’ve been here before and will come again, but I’m not going this trip through.
• Judge not, before you judge yourself. Judge not, if you’re not ready for judgment, whoa oh oh
  From Judge Not (1961)
• Just can’t live that negative way… make way for the positive day!
• Let righteousness cover the earth – like the water cover the sea.
  From Revolution on Natty Dread (1974)
• Life and Jah are one in the same. Jah is the gift of existence. I am in some way eternal, I will never be duplicated. The singularity of every man and woman is Jah’s gift. What we struggle to make of it is our sole gift to Jah. The process of what that struggle becomes, in time, the Truth.
• Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality
  From Wake Up and Live! on Survival (1979)
• Like the bird in the tree, the prisoners must be free.
  From Revolution on Natty Dread (1974)
• Me love everyone. But what me don’t love is them people fight against me. Me don’t love them.
  From a 1975 interview with Demott Hussey
• Me was alone by myself long before me meet any friend.
  From a 1975 interview with Demott Hussey
• Music… is a godly thing, you know.
  From a 1975 interview with Demott Hussey
• My music fights against the system that teaches to live and die.
• My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.
• Never make a politician grant you a favor. They will always want to control you forever.
  From Revolution on Natty Dread (1974)
• No chains around my feet, but I’m not free; I know I am bound here, in captivity.
  From Concrete Jungle on Catch a Fire
• None but ourselves can free our minds.
• One good thing about music, when it hits… you feel no pain.
• One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel alright.
  One Love (cowritten with Curtis Mayfield), from Exodus
• Only your friend know your secrets, so only he could reveal it.
  From Who The Cap Fit
• Open your eyes and look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living? We know where we are going, we know where we are from.
  From Exodus
• Today, people struggle to find what’s real. Everything has become so synthetic that a lot of people, all they want is to grasp onto hope.
  from Rolling Stone’s The Immortals (2004) “Bob Marley”
• Plenty people are just pure hypocrite.
  From a 1975 interview with Demott Hussey
• Rastafari not a culture, it’s a reality.
• Rise O fallen fighters, rise and take your stance again, He who fight and run away, Live to fight another day
• See, you can’t love my music if you love reality.
  From a 1975 interview with Demott Hussey
• The good times of today, are the sad thoughts of tomorrow.
• The harder the battle the sweet of Jah victory.
• The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall.
• The more you accept herb, the more you accept Rastafari.
• The only truth is Rastafari.
• The power of philosophy floats through my head, Light like a feather, Heavy as lead
• The road of life is rocky, and you may stumble, too – so while you point your fingers, someone else is judging you!
  From Judge Not and Could You Be Loved on Uprising (1980)
• The stone that the builder refused, will always be the head cornerstone.
• They say: only the fittest of the fittest shall survive, stay alive!
  From Could You Be Loved on Uprising (1979)
• Truth is the light // So you never give up the fight.
• Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior is finally discredited and abandoned…WAR! So that is prophecy, and everyone knows that is truth. And it came out of the mouth of Rastafari.
• When one door is closed, don’t you know, another is open.
• When the race gets hard to run. It means you just can’t take the pace.
• When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.
• Wisdom is better than silver and gold
  From Zion Train
• You ain’t gonna miss your water until your well runs dry.
• You can fool some people sometimes but you can’t fool all the people all the time.
  From Get Up, Stand Up on Burnin’ (1973)
• You’re working in iniquity, to achieve vanity.
  From Small Axe on Burnin’
• Your life is worth much more than gold.
  From Jamming on Exodus (1977)

Do you know other Bob Marley quotes? Post your favorites in the comments section.

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Bob Marley’s birth and early years

Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake up and live!

Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6th, 1945 in Rhoden Hall of the St. Ann parish, Jamaica. His mother was Cedella Booker and his father was Norval Sinclair Marley, the overseer of a large ex-slave plantation and captain in the British Army.

Bob Marley spent his childhood in Nine Miles, a rural area of Jamaica, where his body rests today. After his father took a job in the city, his mother was his primary caretaker, in addition to aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Bob’s earliest musical exposure was through family: his cousin Nehemiah Lemonious made Marley’s first guitar out of “a large herring pan and strings attached to wooden fretwork” (source). Bob’s grandfather, Omariah Malcolm, had a turntable, amplifier, and large speakers. Cedella Booker frequently sang spiritual music and nurtured Bob’s early musical development.

In the late 1950′s, Bob and his mother moved to Western Kingston, a low-income area with government yards and squatter settlements. The government later built high-rise apartments leading to the area being referred to as a ‘concrete jungle’. The social deprivation of Western Kingston, Trenchtown, was a stark contrast to the tranquility of Nine Miles. Bob moved around a lot, meeting many people including Thaddeus Livingston, the father of Bunny Livingston (who later became one of Marley’s musical partners and member of the Wailers). In addition to living in various places, Bob attended many different schools, but ended up graduating high school in 1960 at the age of 15.

Bob Marley’s career in music begins

From high school, Bob went on to learn the trade of welding, and although he disliked it, he was able to meet co-worker Desmond Dekker. Dekker introduced Bob to Jimmy Cliff, who appreciated Bob’s talent for singing and connected him with Ken Khouri’s Federal Studio. At Khouri’s studio, Bob recorded several songs including “Judge Not”, “Terror”, and “One More Cup of Coffee”. Bob ended up injuring himself while welding, and pledged allegiance to singing. Marley’s first performances in the early 60′s included Queen’s Theatre on Kes Chin’s Talent Parade in Kingston, Derrick Morgan Farewell Concerts in Montego Bay and Clement Dodd‘s arena shows.

Bob Marley and the Wailing Wailers

In 1964, Bob met Neville O’Riley Livingston, better known as Bunny Wailer, and Winston Hubert McIntosh, AKA Peter Tosh. They formed The Wailing Wailers with additional members Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith. The legendary Joe Higgs helped form the group and gave them direction.

Simmer Down, Bob Marley’s first ska hit

Ska, not reggae, was the most popular Jamaican music at the time. Ska was a mix of African rhythms and the New Orleans R&B that Jamaicans heard broadcast across the Caribbean from American radio stations. Simmer Down, a ska track, was The Wailing Wailers’ first hit single.

The track was accompanied by the Skatalites, arguably the most successful ska group ever, and was produced by Clement “Coxsone” Dodd. They cut the album in 1963 and it hit #1 on the Jamaican charts in February, 1964.

In addition to introducing listeners to Bob Marley’s musical talents, Simmer Down also showcased his social awareness, an uncommon trait amongst popular Jamaican artistes at the time. The song instructed Jamaica’s “rude boys” to simmer down on violence and crime, particularly in Kingston. After their initial success with Simmer Down the band continued to release ska tracks while Jamaican popular music shifted steadily towards a rock steady sound.

You can hear and download the Wailers’ Simmer Down here.

Bob Marley’s exodus to America

Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?

The Wailing Wailers continued to work with Coxsone Dodd but were never paid what they deserved. Eventually, after struggling to make it as a band, Junior Braithwaite and Beverly Kelso left the group in 1966 and Marley decided to move to Delaware to live with his mother. At the time of his departure, he has been married to his wife Rita Marley for 1 day.

Bob Marley worked odd jobs in the U.S. for almost 1 year when he received a draft notice from the government, prompting him to return to Jamaica where he reconnected with Bunny and Peter. The group tried to work again with Coxsone Dodd, but things quickly went sour. They continued to work independently and achieved moderate success, which was amplified by the introduction of extraordinary reggae and dub music producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. With Lee Perry, the group manifests several hits including “Soul Rebel”, “Duppy Conqueror”, “400 Years”, “Mr. Brown”, “Small Axe”, and many more. The music did well in Jamaica, but as with Dodd, the compensation was lacking.

And from that shaky start, things kept on growing…

The Bob Marley biography series on Dub & Reggae

This is Part 1 of a series on the life of reggae king Bob Marley, researched and written by Dubconscious guitarist James Keane, who grew up with more than 1 Bob Marley poster on his walls.

The full series includes these articles:

1. Bob Marley Biography – 1945-1969 tells of Marley’s childhood and the formation of the Wailers, as well as their initial struggles to succeed as musicians.
2. Bob Marley Biography – 1970-1976 tells the story of Marley and the Wailer’s transition to a global scene.
3. Bob Marley Biography – 1977-1981 tells the story of Marley’s fame and massive creative output, as well as his final years.

The primary reference for the 3 Bob Marley articles in this series is an excellent book, Bob Marley: Reggae King of the World by Malika Lee Whitney and Dermott Hussey, with a foreward by Rita Marley.

(You can also find more Bob Marley quotes here.)

Related posts:

1. Lee “Scratch” Perry Lee “Scratch” Perry‘s fantastic reggae music voyage began with the...
2. Play reggae guitar like Bob Marley With February 6 right around the corner as Bob Marley‘s...
3. Bob Marley Biography, 1977-1981 This article follows the beginning of the Bob Marley biography...

Bob Marley and the Wailers focus on peace and love

In 1977, Junior Marvin became the lead guitarist of the Wailers, after being introduced to the group by Blackwell. The group proceeded to released Exodus, an album that remained on the British charts for over a year and provided for a successful European tour.

Kaya was released the following year, 1978. This album was less militant than the Wailers’ preceding releases, with tracks predominantly dedicated to love ballads, praises to marijuana, and Easy Skankin.

The new sounds were no less successful than their previous releases, as The Wailers sold out a Trinidad show and toured North America and Europe. These shows provided the content for the double live album Babylon By Bus.

Then, in April 1977, the “One Love Peace Concert” was organized to celebrate a peace treaty established between violently opposed political party leaders Claude Massop of the Jamaica Labour Party and Bucky Marshall of the People’s National Party. Western Kingston had become a war zone due to the violent opposition of these two parties, so the event marked a massive success for peace and understanding. Performers at the One Love Peace Concert included Culture, the Meditations, Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Dennis Brown, Peter Tosh, Ras Michael and Sons of Negus, the Wailers, and many more. Towards the end of the concert, Marley performed his now-famous act of joining hands of Edward Seaga from the Jamaica Labor Party and Michael Manley from People’s National Party in a sign of peace. It is said that lightning struck at that symbolic moment of a promise for peace.

Bob Marley returns to African roots

At the end of 1977, Bob Marley visited Africa for the first time. During his trip he traveled to both Kenya and Ethiopia, perhaps providing inspiration for his next album.

Bob Marley released Survival in 1979. The album was a stark contrast to Kaya, with a forceful message of Rastafari, rebellion, revolution, revelation, resolution, righteousness, and redemption. In 1979 Bob Marley and the Wailers embarked on their most extensive tour beyond North America and Europe into Japan, Australia, and Hawaii.

In 1980, the World Tour began in Africa. The Wailers visited Gabon first, then Zimbabwe, where Marley was invited to sing at the country’s official independence ceremony, a moment that some claim was the high point of his career and the most prestigious of all his awards. No other musical performer, even from Africa, was invited to fill such a slot. The tour continued into Europe, covering some 30 European cities with several sellouts.

After his tour, Marley produced his final album, Uprising, a continuation of the message of Survival with a cry for revolution and visions of apocalypse.

Bob Marley passes away

On May 11, 1981 Marley passed away after complications with cancer.

The events from his first public signs of illness when he collapsed in New York in September of 1980, to his ultimate death are an intricate web of battles with malignant melanoma. His body was ultimately transported back to his childhood home of Nine Miles where it currently rests in a hill-top mausoleum.

Bob Marley’s legacy continues through his recorded shows, interviews, his children, and the multitude of lives he as transformed.

The Bob Marley biography series on Dub & Reggae

This is Part 3 of a series on the life of reggae king Bob Marley, researched and written by Dubconscious guitarist James Keane, who grew up with more than 1 Bob Marley poster on his walls.

The full series includes these articles:

1. Bob Marley Biography – 1945-1969 tells of Marley’s childhood and the formation of the Wailers, as well as their initial struggles to succeed as musicians.
2. Bob Marley Biography – 1970-1976 tells the story of Marley and the Wailer’s transition to a global scene.
3. Bob Marley Biography – 1977-1981 tells the story of Marley’s fame and massive creative output, as well as his final years.

The primary reference for the 3 Bob Marley articles in this series is an excellent book, Bob Marley: Reggae King of the World by Malika Lee Whitney and Dermott Hussey, with a foreward by Rita Marley.

Related posts:

1. Lee “Scratch” Perry Lee “Scratch” Perry‘s fantastic reggae music voyage began with the...
2. Play reggae guitar like Bob Marley With February 6 right around the corner as Bob Marley‘s...
3. Bob Marley Biography, 1945-1969 Most people thing of one man when they think of...

Bob Marley and the Wailers create the Tuff Gong label

In 1970, Bob Marley and the Wailers created the Tuff Gong label in an effort to make the recording process more commercially viable and achieve radio play (at the time, Jamaican radio stations wouldn’t play music recorded without label accompaniment). It turned out to be a fruitful decision as the Wailers heard hit after hit aired on Jamaican radio, including the likes of Trenchtown Rock. What’s more, for the first time in their careers, the Wailers saw money generated from their hits end up in their own pockets, allowing them to continue to pursue their musical dreams. With Tuff Gong the Wailers created the foundation was set for a successful future.

The Wailers’ good fortune continued when 2 brothers, Aston “Family Man” Barrett and Carlton Barrett joined the group. The bassist and drummer combo carried a reputation as the best in Jamaica. In truth, their talent stretched even further as they became a famous rhythm section whose reputation persists to this day.

With the label and the Barrett brothers in place, the Wailers were set to break out on the Jamaican music scene. However, despite their success in Jamaica and the Caribbean, the Wailers were still unknown on an international level.

Bob Marley and the Wailers gain international acclaim

The 1972 release of The Harder They Come, featuring Island Records recording artist Jimmy Cliff, brought international attention to the reggae scene in Jamaica. The same year, Chris Blackwell signed the Wailers to Island Records, further paving the way for their international success.

In 1973, the Wailers released their first Island record, Catch a Fire. Catch a Fire was an international success, containing such classics as Concrete Jungle, Slave Driver, and Peter Tosh‘s 400 Years. Ironically, the album had no success in Jamaica.

In the same year the Wailers released Burnin’, which captured audiences with songs like Get Up, Stand Up and I Shot the Sheriff. When American rock singer/guitarist Eric Clapton re-recorded I Shot the Sheriff he found not only huge success in America, Britain, and Germany, but helped build the Wailers’ reputation around the globe. The Wailers toured in 1973 in Jamaica with Marvin Gaye and the United States with Sly and the Family Stone.

The Wailers lose Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh

Then, in 1974, amidst controversy over pay and individual expression, Wailers cofounders Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh both decided to leave the band.

Sources close to the event have explained that the the separation was only physical, that no conflict resided between them, and that each artist needed to go their own way in order to express what was inherent inside of them. Even so, it was a significant event for the Wailers and some fans were concerned that it would mark the end of their massive creative output.

Both Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer went on to produce amazing music and have successful solo careers. Their departure left Bob Marley with an amazing group of musicians including Al Anderson on guitar, the Barrett Brothers on drum and bass, and a new female vocal dimension consisting of the I-threes (Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths). The new collective released Natty Dread in 1975 and proceeded to tour Europe, appearing with Stevie Wonder. They also recorded a Live album at London’s Lyceum. Both Live and No Woman No Cry hit the charts.

Bob Marley assassination attempt

Bob Marley’s band released Rastaman Vibration in 1976 with the addition of Tyrone Downie on keyboards and Alvin “Seeco” Patterson on percussion. The reggae album hit the U.S. charts and The Wailers toured the U.S. and Canada, then returned to Jamaica.

While in Jamaica, Marley planned the “Smile Jamaica” concert as a symbol of his gratitude towards the Jamaican people and an effort to quell political violence.

However, Marley would soon be caught up in that violence: while Marley was practicing the afternoon before the concert, 5 gunmen entered the rehearsal space and shot Bob, Rita, and Bob’s personal manager, Don Taylor. No one was killed and the Smile Jamaica show went on. Marley even displayed his wound to the crowd. After the concert, however, Marley decided to take a break and spend time with his mother in Miami, and possibly at one of Chris Blackwell’s homes in the Bahamas.

The incident was a reflection of the harsh conditions and economic and political strife that troubled Jamaica at that time. But Marley and the Wailers could not be stopped.

The Bob Marley biography series on Dub & Reggae

This is Part 3 of a series on the life of reggae king Bob Marley, researched and written by Dubconscious guitarist James Keane, who grew up with more than 1 Bob Marley poster on his walls.

The full series includes these articles:

1. Bob Marley Biography – 1945-1969 tells of Marley’s childhood and the formation of the Wailers, as well as their initial struggles to succeed as musicians.
2. Bob Marley Biography – 1970-1976 tells the story of Marley and the Wailer’s transition to a global scene.
3. Bob Marley Biography – 1977-1981 tells the story of Marley’s fame and massive creative output, as well as his final years.

The primary reference for the 3 Bob Marley articles in this series is an excellent book, Bob Marley: Reggae King of the World by Malika Lee Whitney and Dermott Hussey, with a foreward by Rita Marley.

Related posts:

1. Lee “Scratch” Perry Lee “Scratch” Perry‘s fantastic reggae music voyage began with the...
2. Play reggae guitar like Bob Marley With February 6 right around the corner as Bob Marley‘s...
3. Bob Marley Biography, 1945-1969 Most people thing of one man when they think of...