The Man That Changed Music February 6th, 1945 was the birth date of the world greatest and influential musician, Robert Nasta Marley. Robert was a man of great thing influenced by his white father who abandoned his mother and him when he was born. A man formed off the hatred of his father that abused his mother and left him. Bob Marley, abused and abandoned to shape the world, should be considered the great American influencer that he is. February 6th, 1945 is the birth date of Robert Nasta Marley, also known as Bob Marley. After his, birth his white father, Norval Sinclair Marley, left him with his mother, Cedella Malcolm Booker as he went back to England to work. He provided them with financial support, but he was gone for long periods Him was like…like you can read it yunno, it’s one o’dem slave stories: white guy get the black woman and breed her. He’s a English guy…I t’ink. Cos me see him one time yunno. My mother? My Mother African.” (Bob Marley, 1978) When Marley first started in music he started with his friend in school, he then moved on to make a band known as The Teenagers which were later changed to Wailing Rudeboys. After they released their first song, Simmer Down, to Coxsone Dodd a record producer. A few years after the single was released the band broke up and Marley and three other members formed a trio who goes as the Wailers. After the release of multiple songs, Marley went on to join Island Records who help create the famous name of Bob Marley. After signing with Island Records he went to perform with Johnny Nash and tour around the United In 1976 Bob Marley and the Wailers went to hold a free concert to raise money for the Salvation Army school for the Blind. The show was called Smile Jamaica. This was a big event as it was free admission; however, it wasn’t a happy event as unknown individuals shot at the stage. Marley is shot grazing his chest and ending up in his left arm next was Marley’s wife, Rita Marley, shot in the head. His manager Don Taylor was also shot multiple times in the chest. After the shots ended and the assailants fled the scene the show continued although the band was hurt, they stilled performed. Some say that the assailants were American men who were with the destabilization programs in Cuba and South America. As Marley tried to bring peace the United States wanted to “make the economy scream”. They wanted to stir up violence to make Cuba and other areas rebellious to their leaders. In December of that same year, two vehicles filled with armed men went to Marley’s Hope Road yard and shot the place up. Marley was rushed to his manager’s home where it was guarded by police and machete-wielding Rasta men. This is a famous occurrence where Marley should be recognized as one of the most influencing American people. He proved that no matter the situation, good or bad, you have to keep on going even in the hardest of those
The way he used nature in his everyday life and he didn't need much to keep him happy. He could let others see the world through his nonconformist ways through song. He was just happy to be living the life he was given without a worry in the world. That's why I think Bob Marley fits into the Transcendental concepts of nonconformity, simplified Life, and importance of nature. Although he started off Christian I think Rastafarian made him into the man he was. I can't imagine what kind of things he would've done if he didn't die at such an early age can
Robert Johnson is more than just another Blues man with a sad story. To sing the blues with as much soul as Robert Johnson did, you know his life was rough. The life of Robert Johnson was memorable but short. Robert Johnson was born on May 8, 1911. Robert was a product of an extramarital affair. He lived with many different father figures before moving 40 miles south of Memphis to Robinsonville, Mississippi, where he would live till his early adulthood.
...uality, nature, anti-materialism and self-reliance. His music was purposed towards encouraging people to believe in their choices and decisions rather than believing in the teachings of societal institutions. Bob Marley criticized religion is an institution which instead of uniting people ends up separating them. He also warns people not to suffer in the name of going to even and live an afterlife. Rather, they should live in heaven on earth that is, they should be happy in their lives. Bob Marley’s song corresponds to transcendentalist who believed that people should not conform to the normal life patterns. Transcendentalists, just like Bob Marley, believed that one derives happiness from what he/she believes is right no matter what people think or the consequences. When one stands up for his/her rights, he/she does not follow what has been stipulated or instructed.
Reggae music is a meaningful channel for social change. Reggae music portrays resistance to oppression, it is a symbolic action, part of a nonviolent revolution. It is a type of rhetoric; a method of communication designed to influence and persuade. It is a message with a purpose, it represents a crystallization of fundamental issues. Reggae music asks the listener to reconsider our daily lives and to hear the cry of the sufferer, because so many people are suffering. The lyrics and music of Robert Nesta Marley gave reggae music international recognition. Bob was a charismatic performer who truly stands out as a prophet. There is clearly a prophetic overtone to his lyrics yet he was only given the prophetic status after he died. His lyrics operate on a deep level, yet they typically relate to everyday occurrences. Bob's music was and is a powerful force to ease the pain of life in the ghetto. He embodied a feeling of empowerment, and encourages all listeners to 'chant down Babylon'.
Bob Dylan was considered one of the greatest influences on popular culture of all time, and though influential, Bob Dylan’s rise to idol status in popular culture was more brought about by historical factors, his life was affected by many historical events including, The Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War, the Kennedy assassination and the civil rights movement, to name a few. His songs became known as protest songs, despite Bob Dylan’s apparent lack of understanding for the meanings the public attached to his writing.
Bob Dylan was born as Robert Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth Minnesota, where he spent the first six years of his life, and then his family relocated to Hibbing, Minnesota. By the time this musically inclined boy turned ten he could already play the harmonica, piano, and taught himself how to play the guitar. In his first year of high school, he formed a group, the Golden Chords. Dylan then went to the University of Minnesota for arts only to stay there for three semesters. After playing at various coffeehouses he realized school was not for him so he moved to New York, when he turned twenty years old and had hopes of meeting his idol, Woody Guthrie, who he visited many times at the hospital. (Bob Dylan Biography | Rolling Stone) During his time there, he signed with Columbia Records after being spotted by John Hammond, who he is still with today. In 1965, Dylan married Sara Lowndes and they stayed together for twelve years and had four children together, one of their kids, Jakob, is in a band called the Wallflowers. (Bob Dylan Biography) The first album he composed was folk songs with him singing while also playing the harmonica and guitar. This album self-titled, Bob Dylan, had only two of his original songs, “Song for Woody” and “Talking New York”. His second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, inc...
From this song “Buffalo Soldier“written by Bob Marley I’ve shown the struggle of African slaves history behind their stories by comparing it to Bob Marley’s Lyrics. Clarifying through the lyrics made sure it was clear to what we talking about and unfairness to Slavery that began in the late 1800’s and only ceased until 1865. This made me reflect on the Historical truth revealed about racism through the lyrics. A phrase from his lyrics also stood out was ,”Buffalo Soldier, in the heart of america” is described in the term Buffalo Soldiers that were bestowed by the Plains Indians, who were the soldiers' enemies. Despite their enmity, however, the name reveals the respect many Native Americans accorded to the black soldiers. the Buffalo Soldiers played a crucial, though often overlooked role in the history of westward expansion. By protecting settlers, the Buffalo Soldiers paved the way for the settlement of the west and the creation of the United
Marcus Garvey’s Legend, its Influence, Accomplishments, and Effects on the Rastafarian Movement and Reggae Musicians
Bob Dylan, a widely known singer whose works are still worshipped today, was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 19, 1941. He worked along side his father at an oil company as he grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, and “he taught himself piano and guitar” (Dylan Biography, IMDb). Because of his unique outlook on life, he focused much on words in the form of protest singing, but his lyrics are greatly considered to be poetic by himself and others. He acknowledged this by changing his name to Bob Dylan in honor of one of “his favorite poets”, Dylan Thomas, and by leaving his heart on the stage (Dylan Biography, IMDb).
Born February 45th. In Nine Mile, Jamaica, Bob Marley would advance to touch that hearts of many people. Although he was teased during his childhood for being of mixed race heritage, he still managed to change people lives with his leadership and activism as an adult. Bob Marley was not only a leader when it came to activism. He was also a leader for emerging music. He often communicated politics and social issues through his lyrics. Rather than conforming to the demands of the music industry, he created his own unique and authentic style of music. Bob Marley shared fundamental elements of music in his work that is now found in the music genres of today.
Robert Allen Zimmerman, A.K.A. Bob Dylan, was born on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Mississippi to Abram and Beatty Zimmerman. At a young age it became very apparent that Dylan had an amazing musical gifted. By the age of nineteen Dylan could play the harmonica, piano, and guitar. While growing up, his friends and siblings would have classified Dylan as a “loner”. Though Dylan kept to his-self as a child, he had very big dreams and ambitions. Dylan longed to be more successful than one of his heroes, Elvis Presley. In a way Dylan achieved his goal. He became iconic. Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard were just some of the artists who gave Dylan his drive. He would later go on to schoo...
Salmon, Barrington “ Bob Marley’s legacy lives forever” Miami Times, V. 73; N. 22 p. 5A, 2/18/1996
Marley was born into Jamaica’s poverty and it is where he developed a strong love of reggae and became a Rastafari. Reggae, evolved from another musical style called Ska in the late 1960’s, is considered the voice of the ‘oppressed’ peoples. Many reggae lyrics are politicalised and centre on themes of freedom and fighting for it. (Cooper, 2014)
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was a powerful black revolutionary and race leader who influenced a great many people in his time and continues to do so through reggae music. Many of Marcus Garvey's lessons and ideals have found a voice in the lyrics of conscious reggae musicians past and present. From internationally famous musicians such as Bob Marley and Burning Spear, to the music and words of The Rastafari Elders, reggae musicians have found inspiration in Marcus Garvey.
King, Stephen; Jensen, Richard,(1995) Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": The rhetoric of reggae and Rastafari Journal of Popular Culture 29.3