Bob Marley Biography
...ivingston kicked off their musical career by taking a music class with the Jamaican singer Joe Higgs. Joe Higgs always urged Bob and Neville to sing all the time; because that’s the only way to strengthen their voices. Bob listened and sang to reggae constantly. At the age of eighteen Bob decide to make a reggae group; Bob’s group consisted of six people including himself Neville Livingston, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith. Bob Marley and his other band members named themselves “The Teenagers” and later on changing it to “The Wailing Rudeboys”, “The Wailing Wailers”, and finally “The Wailers”. By 1976 Bob Marley had finally made it by becoming famous through out, Bob and his group performed in a free concert for the Prime Minister. Tragedy struck Bob’s abode two days before his concert, Bob, his wife Rita, and his manager Don Taylor were all shot. Luckily no one was severely injured or killed, despite the shooting Bob stilled performed a legendary show at the Smile Jamaica concert. In 1977 Bob and The Wailer recorded the album “Exodus”, possibly the best reggae album ever. “Exodus” congealed Bob and The Wailers fame by going number one in many European nations including England Germany. “Exodus” was also viewed as the one of the top albums of 1977. Bob and The Wailers went on a European tour, the band performed a week of shows at the Rainbow Theatre in London. It was at the start of the tour when Bob injured his toe playing football. His toe was diagnosed as being cancerous. During tour Bob also received a very important ring, which once belonged to the Ethiopian Emperor. His cancer could be taken care of by amputating the toe but Bob refused. In amputating his toe he would have gone against his Rastafarian faith. With this news the Bob canceled the remainder of the Exodus. His illness wouldn’t prevent him from his passion for recording more music , in 1978 of "Kaya" was released. The album “Kaya” had much more of a mellow sound to it than his earlier albums. Bob was accused of being selling out because many of the songs were love songs or tributes to marijuana. In April of 1978, Bob returned to Jamaica to play the One Love Peace Concert. In attendance were Jamaican President Michael Manley and the leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga. Bob was able to get them both on stage and shake hands. On June 15, 1978 Bob was awarded the Peace Medal of the Third World from the United Nations. For the first time Bob visited Africa going to Kenya and Ethiopia. On this trip he started to work on the song "Zimbabwe". The band also released their second live album "Babylon by Bus" which was recorded in Paris. Later Bob Marley and The Wailers recorded another album “Survival” in 1978. Throughout the album the theme of black survival was evident. The Seventies were now over, Bob Marley and the Wailers were the most popular band on the road breaking many festival records. In 1980 the band found themselves in Gabon to perform in Africa for their first time. Here Bob Marley discovered that there manager had defrauded the band, Bob beat him and up and later on firing him. The Zimbabwean government invited the whole band to perform at the countries Independence Ceremony in April. Bob later said the invitation to was the biggest honor of his life. After the amazing honor and experience Bob Marley continue to r...