Bob Marley

Norval died in 1954, when Bob was 9 years old. The date of Norval's birth is debated, with some sources indicating 1895 and others 1881.During his childhood and youth, Bob Marley faced discrimination for being mulatto, but over time he became indifferent to these prejudices, identifying solely as black.Nine Mile, Marley's birthplace, is located about three hours from Kingston, the capital of Jamaica. Cedella Booker, his mother, fought to raise her son in poverty, without access to water or electricity. In this environment, Bob met Bunny Wailer, who would become his close friend. Cedella and Bunny's father began a relationship, which led Bob and Bunny to share a sister.

The family, consisting of five members, moved to Kingston in search of better opportunities. It was in this city that Marley began to take an interest in music, influenced by artists such as Ray Charles and Curtis Mayfield, and groups such as The Drifters, which were heard on the radios of the southern United States.Bob Marley worked in a foundry while developing his musical career, even suffering a burn on one eye. Alongside Bunny Wailer, he received musical training from Joe Higgs, a singer who gave singing lessons. During one of these lessons, they met Winston Hubert McIntosh, known as Peter Tosh. In 1962, Marley impressed producer Leslie Kong during an audition, which allowed him to record some songs.

The following year, Marley decided to form a group with Bunny and Peter, giving rise to the Wailing Wailers. The group caught the attention of rastafari percussionist Alvin Patterson, who introduced them to producer Clement Dodd. In mid-1963, Dodd decided to support the group, and the Wailing Wailers released their first single, «Simmer Down», under the Coxsone label at the end of that year. The original lineup included Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, and the backing vocalists Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith.