In the late 70s, he devoted much of his time to promoting peace within Jamaica and held many peace concerts with the aim of bridging the divide between Jamaica's political groups. He also served as an international cultural ambassador for Jamaica and the Rastafarian religion.

Bob Marley is one of the best known artists worldwide, celebrated for his politically powerful, captivating music. In his short life, he became an international icon, and a symbol for peace, as well as reggae music.

Bob Marley's lifetime of creativity originated in Jamaica and became the foundation of inspiration that spread messages of hope, justice, and understanding around the world. In this exhibit, discover Marley's spirit of love and unity, and celebrate the enduring legacy of his music, work, philosophy, and life.

Who was Bob Marley? Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer-songwriter whose distillation of early ska, rock steady, and reggae musical forms blossomed in the 1970s into an electrifying rock-influenced hybrid that made him an international superstar.

Roots reggae Roots reggae usually refers to the most recognizable kind of reggae, popularized internationally by artists like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, which dominated Jamaican recordings from around 1972 into the early 1980s.

Reggae emerged in the late 1960s and can be identified by:

• time signature of 4/4, with heavy accent placed on the 2nd and 4th beats of the bar.
• strophic form - a repeated verse and chorus.
• typical rock line up – vocals, backing vocals, electric guitars, bass guitar and drum kit.
• prominent riff played on bass guitar.

Robert Nesta Marley was born in the impoverished city of Trenchtown, Jamaica in 1945 to a middle-aged white father and teenage black mother. He began playing music professionally at the age of sixteen, influenced by early American vocalists such as Sam Cooke and the Drifters.

Reggae is noted for its tradition of social criticism and religion in its lyrics, although many reggae songs discuss lighter, more personal subjects, such as love and socializing. Reggae has spread to many countries around the world, often incorporating local instruments and fusing with other genres.

Reggae incorporates a high amount of off-beat rhythms. These are usually staccato beats played by a guitar or piano (sometimes both) on the off-beats (also known as “upbeats”) of a measure. This gives most reggae music a 'jumpy' feel. The “one drop rhythm” is another pattern often noticed in reggae.

Reggae is noted for its tradition of social criticism and religion in its lyrics, although many reggae songs discuss lighter, more personal subjects, such as love and socializing. Reggae has spread to many countries around the world, often incorporating local instruments and fusing with other genres.

Reggae music combines the intensity of soul music, the light touch of ska, and the spiritual center of Jamaican mento. The music is famed for the rhythmic patterns heard in percussion, bass lines, and rhythm guitar parts.

He wanted to create a more peaceful world for him and all of us to live in without any fear. Bob Marley is an inspiration because he practiced what he preached. He did not want to just sing about change to make change he also wanted to act physically to do this.