Bob Marley’s 40th death anniversary

Bob Marley

Legendary reggae singer Bob Marely with hits including No Woman No Cry, Redemption Song, and Buffalo Soldier died of acral lentiginous melanoma cancer in Miami, aged 36, on 11 May 1981.  He was buried in his Jamaican birthplace of the village Nine Mile. In May 1983 Buffalo Soldier reached number four in UK charts. The 1977 album Exodus was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine.

 Bob Marley was born in 1945 to a white middle-class father and a black mother, in Jamaica. He spent his childhood in poverty and had very little contact with his father, a naval officer who worked for the British government.

Marley left home at 14 years old to pursue a music career in Kingston and arrived in Britain in 1972, to form his band The Wailers to tour with Johnny Nash in the hope of launching his international career. In 1973, The Wailers released their album Catch a fire and made their television debut on the BBC.

A recording of No Woman No Cry live at the Lyceum, London in 1975 was released as a single and gave Marley his first UK hit.

 The singer was also passionate about football and known for having a kickabout in between studio sessions or before he went on stage.

 Marley’s last live performance in the UK was on 13 July 1980 at New Bingley Hall, Stafford.