BOB MARLEY i Recent Titles in Greenwood Biographies Arnold Schwarzenegger: A Biography Louise Krasniewicz and Michael Blitz Billie Holiday: A Biography Meg Greene Elvis Presley: A Biography Kathleen Tracy Shaquille O’Neal: A Biography Murry R. Nelson Dr. Dre: A Biography John Borgmeyer Bonnie and Clyde: A Biography Nate Hendley Martha Stewart: A Biography Joann F. Price Michael Jordan: A Biography David L. Porter Alex Rodriquez: A Biography Wayne Stewart Steven Spielberg: A Biography Kathi Jackson Madonna: A Biography Mary Cross Jackie Robinson: A Biography Mary Kay Linge ii BoB Marley A Biography David V. Moskowitz greenwood biographies GREENWOOD PRESS WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT • LONDON iii Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Moskowitz, David V. (David Vlado), 1969 – Bob Marley : a biography / David V. Moskowitz. p. cm. — (Greenwood biographies, ISSN 1540-4900) Discography: p. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978–0–313–33879–3 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0–313–33879–5 (alk. paper) 1. Marley, Bob. 2. Reggae musicians —Jamaica—Biography. I. Title. ML420.M3313M66 2007 782.421646092—dc22 [B] 2007018313 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2007 by David V. Moskowitz All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2007018313 ISBN-13: 978 –0–313–33879–3 ISBN-10: 0–313–33879–5 ISSN: 1540–4900 First published in 2007 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 iv For Jack, welcome to the world v vi Contents Series Foreword ix Acknowledgments xi Timeline: Events in the Life of Bob Marley xiii Chapter 1 Country Boy to Ghetto Youth 1 Chapter 2 Out of the Ghetto, into the Limelight 11 Chapter 3 From Top of the Rock to Top of the World 29 Chapter 4 Reggae International 51 Chapter 5 Home to Mount Zion 67 Chapter 6 The Legacy and the Legend 77 Chapter 7 The Marley Family 85 Selected Discography 103 Bibliography 113 Index 119 Photo essay follows page 66 vii viii series Foreword In response to high school and public library needs, Greenwood devel- oped this distinguished series of full-length biographies specifically for student use. Prepared by field experts and professionals, these engaging biographies are tailored for high school students who need challenging yet accessible biographies. Ideal for secondary school assignments, the length, format and subject areas are designed to meet educators’ require - ments and students’ interests. Greenwood offers an extensive selection of biographies spanning all curriculum related subject areas including social studies, the sci - ences, literature and the arts, history and politics, as well as popular culture, covering public figures and famous personalities from all time periods and backgrounds, both historic and contemporary, who have made an impact on American and/or world culture. Greenwood bi - ographies were chosen based on comprehensive feedback from li - brarians and educators. Consideration was given to both curriculum relevance and inherent interest. The result is an intriguing mix of the well known and the unexpected, the saints and sinners from long-ago history and contemporary pop culture. Readers will find a wide array of subject choices from fascinating crime figures like Al Capone to inspir - ing pioneers like Margaret Mead, from the greatest minds of our time like Stephen Hawking to the most amazing success stories of our day like J. K. Rowling. While the emphasis is on fact, not glorification, the books are meant to be fun to read. Each volume provides in-depth information about the subject’s life from birth through childhood, the teen years, and adulthood. ix A thorough account relates family background and education, traces personal and professional influences, and explores struggles, accomplish - ments, and contributions. A timeline highlights the most significant life events against a historical perspective. Bibliographies supplement the reference value of each volume. x SERIES FOREWO RD [...]... called St Ann Jamaican parishes are vaguely equivalent to counties in the United States Bob was born to a black Jamaican mother, Cedella Malcolm, and a white Jamaican father, Captain Norval Sinclair (or Saint Clair) Marley The two were an odd pair as Cedella was only 18 and Norval, a member of the British army, was in his early sixties Bob s birth took place on his maternal grandfather’s farm Omeriah... treated as a Jamaican national hero He was awarded Jamaica’s National Order of Merit and given a state funeral Afterward, Bob s body was taken to his St Ann’s birthplace where it remains Since his death, Bob s childhood home in St Ann and his house at 56 Hope Road have become places of pilgrimage for ardent fans Although there are many albums that have been released after Bob s death, the Confrontation... environment in which a true Jamaican sound emerged Until this time, Jamaican music had consisted of mento (a ragged Jamaican calypso) and the American rhythm and blues that was broadcast from Louisiana and Florida The development of a uniquely Jamaican sound happened fast and took several forms The first style that developed was called ska This style has a fast beat, shuffling rhythms, and a combination of elements... of ganja (marijuana) has been a point of contention with the Western world since Rastafarianism began Rastas do not smoke ganja for the high; the drug is as illegal in Jamaica as it is in the United States and smoking ganja has led to many Rastas being jailed Instead, Rastas consider ganja the “wisdom weed” of Rastafarianism and smoke it to gain wisdom It became part of their religious rites (rituals)... from her son and she was always reassured that Bob was doing well After six months, Cedella planned to ride the bus into Kingston to visit her son The captain put her off, saying that Bob was away on a school trip and this evasion foreshadowed Captain Marley’s deceit After a full year had passed, Cedella had had enough of the captain’s stalling She had learned from a friend that Bob was not in fact living... Cedella married Edward Booker, who was already established in a small Jamaican community in Wilmington, Delaware Cedella and Pearl relocated to Delaware with Booker, and Bob stayed in Jamaica Cedella did not have enough money for all of them to go; however, she did get Bob a passport and it was at this time that his first and middle names were reversed Now homeless, 18-year-old Bob was squatting in various... Pont Chemical Company and he had part-time jobs as a parking lot attendant, fork lift driver, and dishwasher The rest of Bob s time was spent writing new songs He did not particularly care for the fast pace or the climate in Delaware and looked forward to returning to Jamaica and Rita Also while in Delaware, Bob began his conversion from Catholicism to belief in Rastafarianism His mother was appalled by... Caribbean, Nash and Sims opened the Cayman Music label The label was based in the Cayman Islands and due to the relative cheapness of making recordings in the Caribbean, Nash and Sims’s new company prospered The pair also realized that they could make significant money exporting Jamaican music to the rest of the world Bob and the Wailers auditioned for Nash and Sims and a recording agreement was reached... left Bob on Omeriah’s farm and again took the bus to the capital city This time, instead of searching for her son she was searching for the financial means to properly care for him Bob Marley When Bob was aged 11, Omeriah moved Bob to Cedella’s older sister’s property, about ten miles away from the family farm Here Bob was in charge of a herd of goats that he had to care for and look after Lacking any... Regardless of these (and many other) awards, the true test of Bob s worth is time Twenty-five years after his death, the music of Bob Marley and the Wailers is as popular, important, and pertinent as it was the day it was released Jamaica Jamaica is one of the larger Caribbean islands and is located about two hundred miles south of the islands at the southern tip of Florida (the Florida Keys) The island . Jordan: A Biography David L. Porter Alex Rodriquez: A Biography Wayne Stewart Steven Spielberg: A Biography Kathi Jackson Madonna: A Biography Mary Cross Jackie Robinson: A Biography Mary Kay. musician who rose to inter - national super stardom, died. In death, Bob was treated as a Jamaican national hero. He was awarded Jamaica’s National Order of Merit and given a state funeral. Afterward,. Biography Kathleen Tracy Shaquille O’Neal: A Biography Murry R. Nelson Dr. Dre: A Biography John Borgmeyer Bonnie and Clyde: A Biography Nate Hendley Martha Stewart: A Biography Joann F. Price Michael