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Bob Marley performing at Dalymount Park, on 6 July 1980. Photo by Eddie Mallin –

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Bob Marley

Many of us are familiar with Bob Marley鈥檚 famous songs and even know the lyrics by heart. But there is so much more to this renowned musician beyond his international rock 鈥榥鈥� roll stardom. Although he died at the young age of 36, Marley鈥檚 music and his message have lived on.

1. He was nicknamed 鈥淲hite Boy鈥�

Bob Marley live in concert in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 30, 1980, at the Hallenstadium. Photo by Ueli Frey –

Bob鈥檚 father was a 50-year-old white British naval captain named Norval Sinclair Marley. Bob鈥檚 mom was a black country village girl named Cedella.

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in St. Ann 麻豆APPh, Jamaica.

Because of his mixed racial makeup, Bob was bullied and derogatorily nicknamed 鈥淲hite Boy鈥� by his neighbors. However, he later said the experience helped him develop this philosophy: I鈥檓 not on the white man鈥檚 side, or the black man鈥檚 side. I鈥檓 on God鈥檚 side.鈥�

2. Marley also earned  the nickname “Tuff Gong”

Bob Marley live in concert in Dalymount Park on 6 July 1980. Photo by Eddie Mallin –

The man the world came to know as Bob Marley was born Nesta Robert Marley in St. Ann 麻豆APPh, Jamaica, in 1945. According to Clash Music,   his first and middle names were switched after people pointed out that 鈥淣esta鈥� seemed like a girl’s name.

Marley also earned the nickname “Tuff Gong” as a teenager for the toughness he showed growing up in Kingston鈥檚 Trench Town. He later called his record label Tuff Gong, which is now part of Island Records.

3. He Was A Palm Reader Before He Was A Singer

Bob Marley sckech Por Daniel Alvarado Silvera. Photo by Daniel Alvarado Silvera –

At the age of four, folks discovered that when Marley read palms, his predictions would come true. He stopped reading palms at age 7, however, when he decided to become a singer. As an adult, he reportedly told  a woman who asked him to read her palm, 鈥淚鈥檓 not reading no more hand: I鈥檓 singing now.鈥�

4. He Had Many Children

A film window of Bob Marley, coming from a short film made with super 8. Photo by Lasse Lysberg –

Marley married a local Sunday school teacher named Rita Anderson when he was 21 and they stayed married until his death. He adopted Rita鈥檚 daughter and the couple went on to have four children.

He had several other children with other women, and adopted a child that his wife Rita bore from another man. Officially, Marley acknowledged the fatherhood of 13 children, although there are rumors that more children exist.

5. He Received An Order Of Merit From Jamaica

Bob Marley Statue in Kingston, Jamaica; by Alvin Marriott. Photo by Avda –

Shortly before his death from cancer, Marley received the Order of Merit from Jamaica. This award can be given to 鈥渁ny citizen of Jamaica 鈥� who has achieved eminent international distinction in the field of science, the arts, literature or any other endeavor,鈥� according to the Jamaican government鈥檚 website.

The motto of the Order is 鈥淗e that does the truth comes into the light,鈥� which is something Marley embodied.

6. He Was Given The Peace Medal From The United Nations

Marley filmed from the left stage door during a concert in Stockholm. Photo by Caspiax –

In 1978, the United Nations awarded Marley a Peace Medal in recognition of his advocacy for 鈥渄isenfranchised blacks around the world,鈥� according to his official website. 

He received the medal from African delegates to the United Nations in a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

7.  He Is Sixth On Forbes鈥� List Of Highest-Earning Dead Celebrities

Bob Marley szobra a m煤zeum kapuj谩ban. Photo by Hitachi-Hu –

After he died in 1981, Marley鈥檚 music continued to be played and loved鈥攁nd therefore continues to rake in the money. In 2016, he was the sixth highest-earning dead celebrity in the world, according to Forbes, preceded by fellow musicians Prince, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson.

In 2014, Bob Marley and the Wailer’s greatest hits album 鈥淟egend鈥� cracked theBillboard Top 10 list after Google Play made it available for 99 cents.

8.  Bob Marley smoked marijuana because he practiced the Rastafarian religion

Bob Marley ja Tarrvi Laamann, Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica (2018). Photo by Tarrvi –

In short, Bob Marley smoked marijuana because he practiced the Rastafarian religion, wherein the use of 鈥済anja鈥� (the Rastafarian term for marijuana, taken from an old Sanskrit word) is a holy sacrament.

Bob Marley did not use cannabis recreationally and did not see its use as a casual matter. He viewed marijuana as a holy rite, much as Catholics view Holy Communion or some Native Americans view ceremonial usage of peyote.

Viewing himself as a holy person (as do all Rastafarians), Marley strongly believed that marijuana opened up a spiritual door that allowed him to become the artist and poet he was.

9. Bob performed a free concert for 80,000 attendees in Jamaica

Bob Marley Szlavics. Photo by Laszlo Szlavics Jr –

His indomitable spirit. Bob performed a free concert for 80,000 attendees in Jamaica days after he was shot. He survived the armed assassination and took to the stage two days later where he proclaimed: 鈥淭he people who are trying to make this world worse aren鈥檛 taking a day off. How can I?

10. His Children Are Carrying On His Legacy

Bob Marley Live – Photo painting by Steve Brogdon –

The Marley family is carrying on the family legacy. His eldest son, Ziggy Marley, has won 8 Grammy Awards and been nominated 14 times, while his eldest daughter, Cedella Marley, runs the family business as CEO of Tuff Gong.

From performing, charity initiatives, fashion labels, and cookbooks, all his children have gone on to do great things. Bob Marley will forever be remembered for his powerful musical message.

The more you learn about him, the more fascinating he becomes鈥攁nd these seven facts prove it. He was a professional-level soccer player. A 1977 football injury led doctors to discover a malignant melanoma in Marley鈥檚 toe.               

 They recommended amputation, but he refused for religious reasons. The tumor then spread, which ultimately caused his death.