BOB MARLEY: portrait of a legend!

Bob Marley died on May 11, 1981 from a brain tumor in an American hospital in Miami. Thus died the one who had been nicknamed the Rasta prophet, and who was also one of the first superstars from the Third World. His funeral, which took place a few days later in Kingston, Jamaica (May 21), was worthy of that of a head of state. Hundreds of thousands of people attended, including the then Prime Minister of Jamaica.

During his brief existence, Bob Marley took reggae to new heights unmatched until then. Marley was not just a musician in Jamaica, but a living legend. Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, the son of a British white soldier, Norval Marley, and an 18-year-old Jamaican, Cedella Booker. Marley's father, married to Cedella and although providing financial assistance, was little present in their lives. Bob Marley arrived in Kingston, (which looked like El Dorado for Jamaicans living in the countryside) accompanying his mother who was looking for work. He was raised in Trenchtown, a poor urban ghetto where life was difficult. His friends were street children and he befriended one of them, Nevile O'riley Livingstone, better known by the nickname Bunny. It was with him that Bob took his first steps in the world of music.

Besides being a musician, he was a political activist fighting for peace. In 1978 he was awarded the United Nations Peace Medal for forcing Prime Minister Michael Manley and his opponent Edwar Seaga to shake hands during one of his concerts.

The best-selling reggae album in history was the compilation album “Legend”, released by Island Records in 1984. The album reached 15 platinum records in the United States and over 28 million copies worldwide. With over 200 million albums sold worldwide, he remains the undisputed master of reggae.