Word  "reggae"  at  the  most  of the
people provokes direct association to
Bob   Marley.    He   was   the  most
responsible  for the world afirmation
of  that  kind  of music and the only
one  who  played  it and was loved by
both black and white listeners.

When  he  died in 1981, at the age of
36,  Bob  Marley  was  something more
than just a musician, he was national
hero,  political  symbol and the idol
of  black people not only on Jamaica,
but  at  the  all  countries  of  3rd
world.   He  was  buried  in Kingston
Town,  in the same city he was thrown
in prison about 15 years ago.  It was
in  the  time  when  Marley, together
with  people  from  generation  which
will later give members to "Wailers",
trying  to  make  more  popular music
which you would probably like only if
you  were  black and born on Jamaica.
But  then, suddenly something strange
happen:  reggae was accepted not only
by   the   listeners,   but  also  by
musicians, the  popular  ones:   Eric
Clapton,   Police   and   Clash   for
example.  They didn't play raggae but
their ideas  and music solutions were
taken out of it.

The roots of raggae came from ska and
rock-steady, music which was  popular
in '60.s  on Jamaica. That  music was
born  under  the  influence  of radio
stations from the south of USA, which
were  very  popular  at  the Caribian
those  days.   The  most popular were
sounds  from  New  Orleans, like Fats
Domino  and  his boogie-woogie.  This
how  the  things  were  going  before
raggae.   In  the  February  of 1945.
Bob  Marley  was born, son of Jamaica
girl  and  captain  of  british army.
His   first  singl  "Judge  Not"  was
released  in 1962, and year later the
Wailers  were  born  as:  Peter Tosh,
Bunny  Livingston, Junior Braithwaite
and   Beverly  Kelso.   Ska  oriented
single  "Simmer  Down",  recorded  at
Coxsone  Dodd  Studio  One, the first
studio  on  Jamaica  ever,  was their
first  big  hit  on the island.  That
single line culminated in 1966.  with
"Rude  Boy",  which  was  about young
delinquents    from    Kingstontown's
ghetto.   Just  after  that Kelso and
Braithwaite   left   the  group,  and
Marley   decided  to  left  Coxsone's
music  company  and  to  form his own
label   -   "Wailing   Souls",  which
crashed after only six releases.
Marly  released  his  first  LP "Soul
Revolution"   in   1969,    when   he
returned  to  scene after three years
of  working  in  factory. This LP and
couple  of  singles  were  enough  to
return Marley to positions from three
years   before.    He  was  again  in
bussines  with  his  second  label  -
"Tuff  Gong".   Again succes with few
singles.   This  time  the  best  was
about   the  real  hell  on  earth  -
Kingstontown's   ghetto   Trenchtown.
This   is   the  period  when  Marley
discovered  rastafari  religion.  New
haircut and two new LP's was released
in  1970.   -  "African Herbsman" and
"Rasta    Revolution",   colored   by
rastafari.    Wailers   got  two  new
members:   Baret  brothers  - Carlton
(drums)   and   Aston  (bass).   This
combination of Wailers recorded their
first  LP  for  "Island"  in 1973.  -
"Catch  A  Fire".   The recording was
financed by one of the owners - Chris
Blackwell.   This  was also important
moment  of group's career.  The sound
was much better and even white people
liked  it, but  it still wasn't great
success.

Next LP "Burnin'" was released in the
end  of  1973.  after tours in UK and
America.  From this one comes song "I
Shot  THe Sheriff", which will become
great   international  hit  for  Eric
Clepton  just a year  later. That was
important,  because  peoples  started
asking  themselves  who is  that  Bob
Marley?

Marley's popularity became bigger and
bigger  after  releasing  next  LP in
1975.   -  "Natty  Dread".  This time
the hit was "No Woman, No Cry".  Live
version  of this song will become one
of  the  greatest Island's hits ever,
especially  in UK.  That was the time
when  Bob Marley And The Wailers were
touring  not only UK and America, but
even  Africa  !   Next  three  Lp's -
"Live", "Vibration" and "Exodus" made
from   Marley   in  1977.   respected
musician,  whose  songs  were popular
every   where   and   what   is  more
important,  by whites, too!  That was
the  first  time  his  single entered
top-ten  in  UK - "Jamming".  Success
was followed by seven sold-out nights
at  "Rainbow" hall in London.  But he
was unwelcomed in Jamaica, because of
his  political activities against the
government. He returned to Jamaica in
1978,  invited by Michael Manley, the
primeminister,  to play at "One Love,
One Peace" concert.

Same year LP "Kaya" was released.  It
went on to number four UK charts, and
Marley  was  discovered by punk fans.
They  felt  the protest in his music.
This  coalition of rasta and skinhead
was  shown  on  "Punky  Reggae Party"
single in 1978, and LP "Survival", in
1979,  was  against  the whole world.
Marley  was  at  the  top, one of the
most  popular  black  musicians. They
played  at "Apolo Theater" in Harlem,
New  York,  the  symbol  of  american
black  music.   Soon  after  that, in
1980,  they  were  invited to play on
Zimbabve celebration of independence,
followed  by European tour and new LP
-  "Uprising".   Marley  was allready
very  ill  and doctors were helpless.
Brain  tumor  was  the  winner.   Bob
Marley  died  on  11.   May 1980.  at
Florida, USA.  Loss for the music was
big  and  for  his  homeland  Jamaica
irreparable 'till today.
  
Discography:         Compilations:
-"Soul Revolution"   -"Confrontation"
-"African Herbsman"  -"Legend"
-"Rasta Revolution"  -"Lively Up 
-"Catch A Fire"        Yourself"
-"Burnin'"
-"Natty Dread"
-"Live"
-"Exodus"
-"Kaya"
-"Babylon By Bus"
-"Survival"
-"Uprising"

  MISFIT in 3/1992