Marley’s legacy as Jamaica’s first star is quite important, though he wasn’t actually Jamaica’s first international star (hell, by 1968, Reggae had already had it’s first UK number 1), he had an image that was more memorable than that of Desmond Dekker. Marley’s career began thanks to one Jimmy Cliff, who before becoming a singer and actor, was a talent agent for Beverly’s, a local record label. Cliff would find Marley and as such would sign him to Beverly’s. now it is important to note that Beverly’s was owned by Leslie Kong, whose importance in early Reggae is huge. In 1962, Kong produced Marley’s first single “Judge Not”, however this would be the only single (at least until 1971), that Marley recorded with Leslie Kong. In 1963, Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer would form The Wailers (today known as Bob Marley & The Wailers); two years later, their first album The Wailing Wailers was released. This first album was not a studio album though, and was more of a compilation of singles. In 1971, following their first releases outside of Jamaica (Soul Rebels, Soul Revolution and The Best of The Wailers), the Wailers were out of money, and stuck in the UK. They would end up in contact with Chris Blackwell, who would become the producer of every Marley album on the Island label from 1973 onwards. Before we get to Catch a Fire (the first Island album), it’s worth noting the massive irony about Marley’s career. Lee Perry and Leslie Kong, both important Reggae producers did not produce his best work, although this is not to downplay their importance though. In 1973, The Wailers released their landmark album Catch a Fire (which means “burn in Hell”), it was critically-acclaimed and so was the next album Burnin'. In 1975, Marley scored his first UK hit, after supplying two massive hits for Johnny Nash and Eric Clapton. in 1976, Marley was shot by a Jamaican who believed Marley advocated for the Socialist party in Jamaica. Despite this setback and the ensuing exile to the UK after, the album made out of this, was fittingly 1977’s Exodus – not only the most successful Marley album, but his best; side 2 on its own enough to make the album iconic. Featuring “Three Little Birds”, “One Love/People Get Ready”, and “Jamming”, side 2 was a treat, but side 1 which ended with the title track is also a treat of its own. In the same sessions of Exodus, Kaya was born and with it came “Is This Love”. Sadly Marley would not live much longer. In 1979, he was diagnosed with cancer in his foot, and he would die from this in 1981. His legacy remains huge, especially in Jamaica and the UK.
