Bob Marley: The Man, Myth, Legend

There have been very few artists in the history of Music that define their hometown or country. Few have made a global and political impact that continues to stand the tests of time. Look at names like Michael Jackson, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Tupac, Public Enemy, even Prince to name a few. One of those other names would be Bob Marley. Bob Marley was the Voice of a Revolution, as his music was the soundtrack for activism. Marley is still the symbol of Jamaica, not just because of his groundbreaking music, but also because of how he took a stand against oppression and discrimination. Bob Marley is to Jamaica what Prince is to Minnesota and Marvin Gaye is to Washington, D.C. His music transformed culture. Born February 6, 1945, Bob Marley grew up under the poverty and oppression of Jamaica, and that resonated in his music as it had a rebel sound. The thing that separated him from other songwriters and musicians is that he knew what it was like to be in deep poverty. Marley had to make fire with wood and cook his fish next to the ocean. He came from a place where rain would seep into his house. The ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica made the streets of Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn look like the lap of luxury (with all due respect to Biggie Smalls). 

However, Bob knew how to maximize the hand that he was dealt and he changed the world. The people were Bob's inspiration. Marley was a humanitarian and a revolutionary. Bob's impact on Jamaican politics was so strong, there was even an assassination attempt on his life. That is the power that he carried. Bob's music had incredible versatility. He could go from a marching anthem like "Get up, Stand up" to a song to cheer you up like "Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing". Marley could go from inspiring you to fight for your rights to telling you that every little thing is gonna be alright. "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Jammin'" are some of my other favorite Marley songs. His music also had strong spiritual aspects to it. A favorite of mine is "Exodus". The song actually is a Biblical story as the title is self-explanatory. It is based on the Story of Moses leading the Children of Israel from Egypt through the Red Sea on the journey to their Promised Land. The instrumental and lyrics perfectly went hand in hand, as it creates the ultimate picture in my mind as I listen to it. 

"Open your eyes and look within

Are you satisfied with the life you're living?

We know where we're going

We know where we're from

We're leaving Babylon, y'all

We're going to our Father's land"

I can visualize an army of people marching out of a land of oppression to a land of Promise and rewards leaving a life they are no longer satisfied with. It goes straight to the brain and stands the tests of time. "Redemption Song" is one of his most notable songs that continues to transcend eras. 

"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery/ None but ourselves can free our minds/Have no fear for atomic energy/'Cause none of them can stop the time." 

Bob Marley's music still applies today as it did in the 70's. His music will still resonate even in 3017. He was a musician that used his power to reach back to the people. Long before The Rock, Bob Marley was the People's Champion. Marley was so cool that he even invited Michael Jackson and his family to Jamaica to hang out with him. That will always stand out for me. Two Iconic Songwriters who were from two different spectrums but had similar mindsets when it came to bringing changes. Just imagine what kind of collaboration they could've had. 

Bob Marley T-shirts are still popular to this day, because his music still speaks to the times that we live in. It is something that we can still grasp. His "Legend" Greatest Hits Album is the Greatest Reggae Album of All-Time, released three years after his death. "Legend" was ranked number 46 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums List. It is also Certified Diamond by the RIAA selling 15,000,000 Copies Worldwide. 

At Bob Marley's funeral on May 21, 1981, Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga delivered a powerful eulogy: 

"His voice was an omnipresent cry in our electronic world. His sharp features, majestic looks, and prancing style a vivid etching on the landscape of our minds. Bob Marley was never seen. He was an experience which left an indelible imprint with each encounter. Such a man cannot be erased from the mind. He is part of the collective consciousness of the nation."

That was the perfect description of Bob Marley. He was an experience that left an enormous mark on society that cannot be erased.