“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” When it comes to music, it is something which gives relief to your body and sometimes works as a stress releaser. But no one would have imagined that music may be a part of revolution and can be used as a social change. Here we are talking about the lifestyle of a legend, who improvised the world and gave music a new definition. Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, song-writer, musician and guitarist. Besides social change, his music allows listeners to forget their vows and worries and make them dance. He is currently a role model of youth and is the fifth on the list of Forbes of top earning dead celebrities.

# Early Life

Bob Marley was Robert Nesta Marley on Feb. 6, 1945. Bob got his middle and first name swapped around to preserve his masculinity after a comment was made that Nesta was seen as a girl’s name. Bob was born to Cedella Marley, when she was 18 in Nine Miles. He spent his early life in rural community.

When he was of four, it was discovered that Bob could read palms. Firstly his mother didn’t took it seriously but when his readings came true, she was quite shaken.  When Bob was a lot older and returned to Kingston, a woman asked him to read her palm – he replied: “I’m not reading no more hand: I’m singing now.”

During his school days, he loves to study mathematics. But he didn’t stay in school for long and started to manage as a apprentice welder.

# Rastafarian Beliefs

Rastafarianism is a religious movement (especially popular in Jamaica — 5% to 10% of the population) that is less than a century old. It had its beginnings in a black, political movement that started in the 1920s/30s. Marley, a heavy pot-smoker, was a militant follower and advocate of Rastafarianism. Students of this movement suggest that Marley became a symbol of “Rasta values and beliefs.” He and his musical group (the Wailers) blended traditional Jamaican music with various other forms into a style known as Reggae.

# Love For Football

Bob Marley from starting loved the game of football. He also quoted “Football is freedom, a whole universe. Me love it because you have to be skillful to play it.” and shared his love for football. As well as playing the game, in parking lots, fields, and even inside recording studios, growing up he followed the Brazilian club Santos and its star player Pele. He told a journalist, “If you want to get to know me, you will have to play football against me and the Wailers.”

 # Wisdom Weed

As Marley was a true believer in Rastafarian culture and the “sacrament” of Rastafarianism is ganja (marijuana), called the “wisdom weed.” Leaders urge adherents to smoke marijuana as a religious ritual. For better or worse, no individual in history is more closely associated with smoking marijuana – or “herb,” as it’s called in Rastafarian culture – than Bob Marley. You would hardly find a college dormitory in the United States without Marley’s at least one poster of ‘lighting up’ the weed. But it is very important to know that Marley didn’t opted weed because of style instead was a fierce opponent to those (“political forces”) who tried using marijuana as a vehicle for oppression,

Bob once said in an interview, “Now, when you smoke, it makes you cool, you know? It make you stimulate your mind, and make you sit down and meditate. Instead a get foolish, you sit down and you can meditate and be someone. Rum teaches to you be a drunkard, and herb teach you to be someone.”

# Inspiration And Acheivements

A generation later a group of political refugees from Sierra Leone living in Guinean concentration camps and traumatized by years of bloody warfare in their country, found through the music of Bob Marley, inspiration to form their own band and write and record their own songs. The Refugee All Stars won international acclaim for their 2006 debut “Living Like A Refugee” and their 2010 album “Rise and Shine”, each utilizing a blend of reggae.

Bob Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his 1977 album “Exodus” was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC. Since its release in 1984, Marley’s “Legend” compilation has annually sold over 250,000 copies according to Nielsen Sound Scan, and it is only the 17th album to exceed sales of 10 million copies since SoundScan began its tabulations in 1991. And in 2001, he was bestowed The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

# Death

Bob Marley died because of cancer and the first sign of cancer came in 1975 when Marley smashed his right toe while playing soccer, Rolling Stone reported. Marley continued to be active on the toe, despite doctor’s orders. Two years later, the toe sustained a worsened injury, and wouldn’t heal. A London doctor told Marley that without amputation, it could turn cancerous. “Rasta no abide amputation,” he said, according to Rolling Stone.

When Bob was terminally ill he wanted to end his days in Jamaica, but unfortunately, on the Germany to Jamaica journey, didn’t make it past Miami. Ever the romantic, he was buried on home turf along with a soccer ball, his Gibson Les Paul guitar, and a bud of marijuana.

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