Nickname: King of Reggae
Genre: Reggae / Ska
Most Memorable Recording: No Woman, No Cry
Followers: Zukie Joseph, Joseph's Quote, Terry Matsuoka, Joe Driscoll, Martin Jondo, Jahir & The Experiment, Elan, K'Naan, Patrice, Bejole, Gentleman, Mana, Tribal Seeds, Slackstring, Matisyahu, Mr. G, Anthem, Clark Slater, Zino & Tommy, Vick Silva, Bedouin Soundclash, Mister Gang, Daniel Lemma, Ras Abijah, Cultura Profetica, Callejeros, Malay, Roger Campo, Los Olvidados, Mito, Chris Opperman, Dispatch, Heavy D, Pepper, The Slip, Chain Gang, Melon Diesel, Jyve V, Max Herre, Wahala, Gondwana, Ras Shiloh, Slightly Stoopid, Rocky Dawuni, Jeb Loy Nichols, Wyclef Jean, Desorden Publico, Julian Marley, Damian "Junior Gong" Marley, Yvad, Sublime, Vanessa Daou, Yasus Afari, Johnny Nash, Peter Tosh, Ziggy Marley, Winston Jarrett, Ben Harper, Trevor Hall, Trey Anastasio, Garnett Silk, Buju Banton, Benjamin Zephaniah, Don Carlos, Henry Kapono, Peps Persson, Châlice, Gilberto Gil, UB40, The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dread Zeppelin, Coloured Stone, Bad Brains, Andrew Tosh, Third World, Steel Pulse, The Skatalites, Musical Youth, Pablo Moses, The Meditations, Rita Marley, Israel Vibration, John Holt, Lucky Dube, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Black Uhuru, Kinsey Report, Arrested Development
Since just about every human on the planet seems to own Legend, it's hardly necessary to describe the King of Reggae's music. Marley's style developed early under the tutelage of Lee Perry, who influenced Marley's phrasing and provided him with Jamaica's tightest backing unit The Upsetters. His voice graced early Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae recordings, accompanied by fellow Wailers Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Later Marley utilized female singers in the I-Threes when Peter and Bunny left to pursue solo careers. It took Eric Clapton's chart-topping success with "I Shot the Sheriff" to introduce Marley's music to a wide audience in the U.S., but today his sound is a bona fide international phenomenon. Biting lyrics coated in sugary-sweet melodies made Marley a genuine political force who delivered his messages in upbeat, rhythmic vehicles. His prophetic wails still ring true; his expansive music remains powerful and virtuosic. We're left wondering why we had to lose the Caribbean negus at such a young age.
