Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley was born in Jamaica on February 6th, 1945, as the son of an English Of- ficer, Norval Sinclair Marley and the Jamaican Cedella Booker. As a youngster he preferred playing Football than learning for school. But later he started training as a welder. At crafts- man’s school he met Desmond Decker, which had a worldwide hit with his song “Israelites”. That’s how he got interested in music. In 1961 he recorded his first singles with “Judge Not” and “One cup of coffee” which were only re- leased in Jamaica. 3 years later he created with his friend Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Junior Braithwaite, Cherry Smith and Beverley Kel- so, the group „The Wailin’ Wailers“. Their first single “Simmer Down” was a bestseller in Jamaica. In October 1968 Bob Marley de- cided to become a “Rastafarian” and decided not to go to the hairdresser anymore. Due to his religion he grew “Dreadlocks”. 1972 Bob Marley & the Wailers signed a contract with “Island Records”. His international success started only in May 75 with the album “Natty Dread” and the single “No Woman, No Cry”. He became the uncrowned “King of Reggae” in 1978 with his sixth album “Kaya” and the bestseller “Is this Love”. He couldn’t enjoy his success very long, as he died on May 11th, 1981 at the age of 36 due to lung cancer and a tumor in his brain. One month prior his death he earned the “Jamaican Order of Merit”.