Kelso Lyrics and Profile

Arguably the most famous names in the reggae music genre, Bob Marley - whose full name was Robert Nesta Marley - was born in February 1945 in the rural community of Nine Miles in St. Ann, Jamaica. He later moved to the poverty stricken, yet culturally rich neighbourhood of Trench Town, a place he immortalised in some of his biggest hits, Trench Town Rock and No Woman No Cry.

Marley first met fellow singer Wailer – Neville Livingston – and musician Tosh – Hubert Winston McIntosh, in 1963. They were joined later that year by singers Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso and Cherry Smith and formed The Wailers. Early the following year, Marley and Wailer had picked up some instrumental skills and the band was bolstered further by the arrival of drums and bass playing brothers, Carlton and Aston Barrett. Some of the group’s popular releases during that time included The Wailing Wailers in 1965, Soul Revolution in 1971, Catch a Fire in 1972 and Burnin’ in 1973.

Fast forward to 1974 and, following the departure of Wailer and Tosh due to their reluctance to go on tour, Marley created Bob Marley and the Wailers and began touring with a range of new backing band members, including Junior Marvin and Earl Lindo, who played the keyboard. Marley’s wife, Rita, sang the backing vocals alongside Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt. This new group produced albums that were credited with changing the face of reggae music, including Rastaman Vibration in 1976, Exodus in 1977, Uprising in 1980 and Confrontation in 1983.
As well as his impact on the reggae genre, Marley strove for social change and, following his death from cancer in May 1981, left a remarkable legacy. His revolutionary yet unifying music challenged racism and colonialism. A statue of Bob Marley was unveiled during a rock music festival in war-scarred Serbia in 2008, with an inscription which read ‘Bob Marley: Fighter For Freedom Armed With A Guitar.’