As the birthplace of reggae music, Jamaica is home to numerous reggae artistes, who have made their mark on the genre and industry worldwide. The most popular of them all is Bob Marley, the undisputed King of Reggae, whose music has transcended decades. Get to know the legend with these facts from the Bob Marley Museum:

  • Bob Marley was born in Nine Mile, St. Ann, Jamaica on February 6, 1945 

  • He went to school at Stepney All Age in Nine Mile, St. Ann 

  • His mother’s name was Cedella Marley Booker and his father’s name was Captain Norval St. Claire Marley.  

  • He moved to Trench Town in 1956. 

  • He married Rita Anderson in 1966 and had 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls 

  • He received the Centenary Medal from the Council of The Institute of Jamaica 1970, 1979 

  • His awards include:  

    • Silver Star award and a Gold award for the album ‘Kaya’ (1978) 
    • Gold award for the album ‘Babylon By Bus’ (1979) 
    • German Record Award for ‘Natty Dread’ (1979) 
    • Gold award for the album ‘Uprising’ (1980) 
    • Triple Platinum award for the album ‘Legend’ (1984)  
    • Best International Album for ‘Legend’ (1984) 
    • ASCAP Award for being among the top reggae artistes on the music charts 1997 
    • ASCAP award for ‘Stir itUp’ 
    • Diamond Certificate for the album ‘Legend’, 1999 
    • ‘Exodus’ was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine 1999 and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in February 2006 
    • Lifetime Achievement Award NARAS (Grammy) was bestowed posthumously in February 2001  

  • He was presented with a Certificate of Citizenship from the Mayor of Atlanta in December 1979 

  • The album ‘One Love’ was named Anthem of the 20th Century by the BBC in 1999 

  • A star for Bob Marley was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2001 

  • The Order of Merit was bestowed on Bob Marley by the Jamaican Government in 1981, giving him the title The Honourable Robert Nesta Marley O.M 

  • He received a Certificate of Appreciation from Dade County, Florida in 1982 

  • The Bob Marley Museum was opened to the public on May 11, 1986 and was declared a protected National Heritage Site on May 31, 2001 

  • He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and inaugurated in the United Kingdom Hall of Fame in November 2004 

  • The home of Bob Marley, 34 Ridgemount Gardens, Camden, London was declared a heritage site in 2006