RIP Bob Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981)

I can recall sitting in the conference room at Universal Music and Video Production in Universal City as an intern, working in the music industry, as I sat and listened to the lineup of mentors they had selected to speak to us about the music industry.  One thing I will never forget was a trivia question that one speaker asked the crowd of interns.  "What is Universal Music's best selling album every year for the past ten years?".  We all thought long and hard, some blurted out answers but it didn't matter because we were all wrong and had no clue as to what the answer was.  Then it was finally uttered, Bob Marley's album Legend held the crown for the best selling album in all of Universal's (Island Records) catalogue, year after year.

I think we all were completely shocked to hear this bit of information.  But now that I know what I know about Bob Marley, I am not surprised.  Clearly, the biggest reggae artist to ever hit the scene (then and now), Marley was a pioneer and trailblazer in the genre of reggae, which he almost single-handedly put on the map and spread around the world.  Reggae, a genre that portrays the love, hurts, trials and triumphs of the people of Jamaica, speckled with ska and rocksteady influences, is now an international genre, played and recorded all over the world by people of various races, religions and backgrounds.

I also recall a good friend in college who spoke so eloquently and passionately about Marley, his music and his political contributions.  Still ignorant to the life and legacy of Bob Marley I sat and listened in awe as he told me about the day Bob tried to unite the political parties of Jamaica in a free political concert called One Love Peace concert.  This is the day that the stars aligned, the clouds separated and Bob Marley got two rival leaders of Jamaica's political parties to shake hands.  He did this, after being wounded at a previous political concert with the same premise....to unite the people of Jamaica.

Learning this and observing Marley's resolve opened my mind to the almost "saviour-like" figure that Bob was and still is for the people of Jamaica and his fans across the globe.  He combined his passion for music, politics and his love for the Rastafari Movement and created musical masterpieces that are outselling living artists to this day.  I sat back and thought had America seen a figure like this throughout its history of popular music?  An artist that would risk his life and/or his popularity to "get up and stand up for our rights"?  An artist who shunned popular thought and practices and declared his rightful place in the musical legend/icon category?

One listen to songs like "One Love", "Buffalo Soldier" "Get Up, Stand Up", "I Shot The Sheriff", "No Woman, No Cry", and "Jamming", and countless others and it is clear that these songs are indelibly imprinted on the minds and hearts of his fans around the world.

Marley had many children, some of who are still making music and are carrying out his legacy whether it be via fashion or activism.  The commercialization of Bob Marley's persona and his music is somewhat disappointing.  Whether his family profits or not, the marketing and branding of his image is almost disgraceful when you think about what he fought and struggled for through his life and music.  He was so much more than red, green and yellow ironed on logo tees, zippo lighters and beanies.  A Bob Marley festival does not do justice nor lend credit to what this man was able to accomplish in his short time here on earth.  Despite the commercialization of his music; his beliefs, his words and his legacy lives and thrives in the hearts of reggae enthusiasts around the world and finds itself as a major influence in the musical genres of Hip Hop, R&B, Rock, Pop, and so much more.

His Rebel Music will stand the test of time and we will forever be reverred and honored for his greatness through music and political activism. RIP Soldier!

What is your favorite Bob Marley song?
What does his life and legacy mean to you?