| How did Bob Marley start into the world of music? As | | | | exert an influence to be sure, but not the way they do |
| with many people, Bob's path was a long and winding | | | | today. Back then, a talented artist, with a message, a |
| one, with may forks that eventually led him from very | | | | little luck, and desire to break out of their surroundings |
| humble beginnings to musical prominence on the world | | | | was enough to create an incredibly rich and resonant |
| stage. His father was a quarter master of a ship in the | | | | musical success story the likes of which have never |
| British West Indian regiment. His mother was actually | | | | been duplicated. Whether such a remarkable story |
| 32 years younger then his father at the time. His | | | | could happen today is debatable. |
| fathers family was white, and due to increasing | | | | Luckily for those of us who were around during the |
| pressure from his fathers family, Bob Marley saw little | | | | ascension of Reggae music to world prominence, Bob |
| of his father. | | | | Marley did happen. And his influence was felt |
| In his early teens, his mother moved the family from | | | | everywhere. Not just in his music, but his religion, and |
| the northern part of Jamaica to Kingston. Not actually | | | | his message of peace. A young boy growing up in |
| Kingston proper, but a small shanty town on the | | | | what must have been very confusing times, managed |
| outskirts of Jamaica called Trenchtown. It was here, | | | | to become an inspiration and spokesman for |
| the Bob Marley would meet the future members of his | | | | thousands world wide. His music and message still |
| band. Those included Bunny Livingston and Peter | | | | survive today. Bob Marley posters, art, music, and |
| McIntosh. Here, in Trenchtown in very humble | | | | prodigy survive and flourish to this day. |
| beginnings to say the least laid the seeds of one of | | | | We live in a lucky age, that allows for music to be |
| the most remarkable and influential set of musicians to | | | | recorded and passed on through the generations. It's |
| ever hit the world stage. | | | | been over forty years since Bob Marley made his first |
| It certainly doesn't seem to be the most likely recipe | | | | album, and much of his music is still ingrained in out |
| for fame and success, but the music business is a | | | | generations youth. One has to wonder, how many |
| funny place. At least it was back then, before the big | | | | more years the next lucky generations will hear his gift. |
| corporate moguls had their say and control. They did | | | | |