Bob Marley’s influence in taking reggae to a mass global audience cannot be underestimated, and the intervening thirty years since his death from cancer on 11th May 1981 have not dimmed his presence in our hearts and lives. On the contrary, he has become a global icon. Bob Marley was not only almost single-handedly responsible for introducing reggae music to an international audience, but inextricably linked with it, the first popular knowledge of the Rastafarian faith which he followed and always promoted through his music. Bob Marley has became a figure of immeasurable influence and inspiration to the young in particular ( but not exclusively by any means ). How many teenagers and students today have posters of Bob Marley on their bedroom walls?!! He represents and epitomises a purity of spirit that thirty years on remains undiminished!!

Bob Marley was born in Jamaica in 1945, son of a British army captain and a Jamaican mother. He began his singing career in the early 1960s with the vocal group The Wailers, playing a form of reggae strongly influenced by his personal exposure to the love of American rhythm and blues artists such as The Impressions.

The intrinsic melody in Bob Marley’s work, dovetailed with the reggae rhythm and the power and conviction of his lyrical messages, was to make him the first reggae artist to achieve recognition in the popular market, beginning with the album “Catch a Fire” in 1973.

It was only when Eric Clapton recorded Bob Marley’s song “I Shot the Sheriff” and had a Top 10 hit with it in August 1974 that the UK became aware of him. The irony of this song was brought in to sharp focus five years later when Bob Marley was shot in the chest, following appearances in Jamaica at public rallies in support of the then Prime Minister, Michael Manley!!

Bob Marley had his first hit in September 1975, when “No woman, no cry” reached No 22 in the UK charts. My introduction to this song was courtesy of Johnnie Walker who mercilessly championed the record on his lunchtime programme on Radio One. It simply struck me as a unique sound. At the time reggae songs had intermittent success in the UK charts, and indeed already that year there had been a smattering of Top 10 reggae hits such as Johnny Nash’s “Tears on my Pillow”, Susan Cadogan’s “Hurt so good” and John Holt’s reggae version of Gladys Knight’s “Help me make it through the night”

Just occasionally we had witnessed reggae songs reach No1 – Desmond Dekker & The Aces’s “Israelites” in 1969 and Ken Boothe’s 1974 reggae rendition of David Gates’ “Everything I own” immediately spring to mind. The latter was released on the Trojan label, which along with Bob Marley’s Island label had done much to champion and promote reggae music since the early 1960s. Infact it’s only fair at this juncture that we recognise and acknowledge the huge debt of gratitude that reggae artists and music consumer alike have to pay to Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, who was responsible for importing and promoting Jamaican reggae music into the UK!!

Not wishing to overlook or diminish the many other reggae artists and acts, in particular Jimmy Cliff, but it was only when Bob Marley arrived on the UK music scene, that radio listeners were regularly immersed in quality reggae music. And those songs quickly became classics – “Exodus”, “Waiting in Vain” and “Is this love?” were followed by a series of classics that were not hits until after his untimely death – “Could you be loved?”, “Buffalo Soldier”, “One love” and “Iron Lion Zion”.

It maybe thirty years since Bob Marley’s death, but his music and message will never grow old because of it’s purity and innocence. In a Western world that has seemingly turned it’s back on conventional religion, Bob Marley provides us with a spiritually uplifting Evensong, anytime of day or night!! RIP Bob Marley – you really are one of the few and true 20th Century legends!!

So why not celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Bob Marley’s death with a song souvenir?…………Get your favourite Bob Marley and the Wailers’ vinyl records or compact discs ( singles or albums ), framed and mounted, by clicking on….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Alternatively you can buy a Bob Marley and the Wailers “Song Souvenir” for a family member, or friend……this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration ie a 40th, 50th, 60th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Mother’s or Father’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!

MyFirstRecord.co.uk have most of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ albums and singles available in their original vinyl record format.  Select from this full list of albums on the Island label –

The Wailing Wailers (1965)

Soul Rebels (1970)

Soul Revolution (1971)

The Best of The Wailers (1971)

Catch a Fire (1973)

Burnin’ (1973)

Natty Dread (1974)

Rastaman Vibration (1976)

Exodus (1977)

Kaya (1978)

Survival (1979)

Uprising (1980)

Confrontation (1983)

If you would like any of these Bob Marley and the Wailers albums or any of their hit singles, framed and mounted, ORDER now by clicking on….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

For all other merchandise and memorabilia, you might like to visit Bob Marley’s official website…… www.bobmarley.com/

For news of a forthcoming Bob Marley documentary, go to the BBC 6 Music website…….

www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20110511_marley_film.shtml