It is 6 February marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of Bob Marley, One of the most influential figures of global music and culture, There are few artists have left a brand as important as he, Transcending music to become a resistance symbol, spirituality and unity, In a legacy that is still alive not only in their songs, but in the political impact, social and spiritual that has left in entire generations.
To celebrate this great reggae figure, As every year a series of activities are carried out that culminate with a concert from the 21:00 Chile hours (19:00 Hours in Jamaica) in which they will participate Julian Marley; Skip Marley; Bushman; Warrior King, Aza Lineage, In addition the Argentine band Nonpalidece and the Mexicans Antidoping and Jah Fabio.
Nevertheless, starting at 17:00 Chile hours will begin online transmission of the celebrations and that you can continue here.
A BRIEF BOB HISTORY
Bob Marley was born in the small town of Nine Mile, In the parish of Saint Ann, Jamaica, the 6 February 1945. From a young age, certain mystical skills were attributed to him and even some neighbors claimed that he had psychic abilities and that he could read his hand with amazing precision.
Grew in a humble environment, marked by poverty and racial segregation. His mother, Cedella Booker, It was an Afrojamaican peasant, and his father, Norval Marley, a target of British descent that was barely present in his life.
In Nine Mile he met Bunny Wailer And then his mother paired with Bunny's father. The new family moved to the capital Kingston In search of a better future and reached the ghetto of Trenchtown, The marginal neighborhood that would deeply influence the music and message of Bob.
It is precisely with Bunny with whom Bob began to be interested in music, coming to compose and play some songs, both influenced by the music that came to the island from the southern radios of the United States.
At this initial stage they received musical training from Joe Higgs, Your mentor, And in one of those classes they met another young man, Winston Hubert McIntosh, then known as Peter Tosh, with whom they formed friendship and also a musical group, the Wailing Wailers, This in the first years of the 60s′, coinciding with the independence of the island.
In 1963 They recorded “Simmer Down”, The first success of the group that also formed Junior Braithwaite and two choristers, Beverly Kelso y Cherry Smith. At the time they played ska, fashion music and what was 100 percent Jamaican.
In 1966 He marries Rita Anderson -what is called Rita Marley– And then goes to Delaware, U.S, where his mother moved to live after marrying again, where it passes near 8 months working at a Chrysler car brand plant.
In April of that same year Haile Selassie He visited the island, What gave a strong impulse to the Rastafari movement. A crowd broke into the runway to welcome the Ethiopian emperor, that for the dreadlocks it was the second coming of the Messiah, The Black Christ.
Marley was not on the visit, Well, he returned to Jamaica in October of 66 From the United States, But anyway he approached Rastafari from the teachings of Mortimer Plano, a leader of the movement that prior to the arrival of Selassie traveled to Ethiopia in 1961.
This trip, which included plane, Filmore Alvaranga y Douglas Mack, It was carried out after the recommendation of the University of the Western Indies to the Government of the Island from an official study requested by the members of the Rastafari movement themselves, from which a document known as “Report of The Rastafari Movement in Kingston, Jamaica” (“Rastafari movement report in Kingston, Jamaica”).
It should be noted that this report was translated into Spanish in Chile and published in 2016 In a limited edition by Cimarron Editions.
The Wailers
After that, Marley brings together Bunny and Peter to form The Wailers, which includes the members of the upsetters, The Backing Band of Lee Perry studio, that included those who were shaping the reggae during the time as the brothers Aston and Carlton Barrett in the bass and battery.
From then on the story is known, Well, they sign with Island Records and record albums Catch a Fire Y Burnin’ in 1973, with which they get success and release the group that showed a striking and new musical style from a small Caribbean island.
After that comes the separation of Bunny and Tosh, The first uncomfortable for tours and all that this implied, since they were traveling not in the best conditions, While the second had some discomfort that Marley was put by Island producer, Chris Blackwell, as the main figure of the band. And this is how the group is finally called Bob Marley & The Wailers.
Marley's impact on global music
Bob Marley was the first artist born in a country in “Third World” In becoming a global superstar and its success from the early 70s′ Not only projected it to fame, but also placed reggae on the world map of music.
Before Marley, Reggae was a marginal genre outside of Jamaica, nevertheless its fusion with rock elements, The soul and the funk made it accessible to global audiences and artists of various genres, since The Clash until Eric Clapton (who versioned “I Shot the Sheriff”), They were inspired by their music.
Today, The influence of reggae is still alive in the dancehall, Reggaeton and Afrobeat, genres that have taken elements of their rhythm and message.
Musical versatility
Although cut, Marley's career was very prolific and demonstrated great versatility, In addition to being considered among the best singers in history. Composed music with different nuances, From spiritual hymns to issues of love and social protest.
Rastafarismo deeply influenced his work with songs like “One Drop”, “Rastaman Vibration” O “Natty Dread”, that celebrate the Rastafari identity and their connection with Jah. Likewise, “Exodus”, considered one of his greatest works, It is a call to spiritual and physical migration towards the promised land of Africa, According to the Rastafari belief, or also “Jah Live”, that responds to the news of the death of Haile Selassie with a message of hope, stating that Jah is still alive in the hearts of his followers.
Marley was also a chronicler of injustice and launched songs in that line as “Get Up, Stand Up”, which is a direct call to the resistance against oppression, O “War”, whose lyrics are based on a speech by Haile Selassie, that denounces racism and imperialism.
“Burnin’ and Lootin'” reflects police brutality in Jamaica and “Zimbabwe” It was written to celebrate the independence of ancient Rhodesia and its message continues to resonate in global liberation movements.
At the same time, His creative genius also made him create hymns of hope and also beautiful love songs such as “Is This Love”, “Waiting in Vain” Y “Turn Your Lights Down Low“, Examples of your romantic sensitivity.
While “Three Little Birds” It has become a hymn of optimism, With his simple but powerful message that “Everything will be fine”, O “No Woman, No Cry”, A song that, beyond its literal interpretation, It is a singing of comfort and strength in the face of the difficulties of life.
Finally your message “One Love”, that is very present in the homonymous song, It is perhaps its most durable legacy.
Although its transcendence of the physical plane occurred more than 40 years, Bob Marley's influence on the world continues to manifest in his music and his legacy.
