Reggae Poet

Before he was the face of reggae music and the most prominent practitioner of Rastafarian religion, Bob Marley was a little boy called Nesta, growing up in the tiny Jamaican village of Nine Miles. The only son of a Jamaican farmer's daughter and an aging British government official, the young boy was rejected by both white and black society, and tormented by gangs in the poor neighborhoods of Trench Town. Bob soon learned to find refuge and relief in American rock 'n' roll. He began making his own music, combining the popular music he heard on the radio with the sounds he heard around him throughout Jamaica. Bob formed a band called the Wailers. Eventually, their music made its way across the Atlantic. Before long, Bob was one of the most famous and influential musicians in the world, embarking on worldwide tours and releasing records embraced by the public and critics alike. But fame was not always easy, as Bob's rise to stardom strained his relationship with his wife, children, and even his childhood friends who had helped him achieve his dreams. He also found himself in the middle of a struggle for power in Jamaica, and found his life endangered by corrupt politicians and militias. But with his steadfast belief in the Rastafarian religion, and an unyielding focus on the creation of music, Bob Marley carried on, becoming one of the most beloved musicians of all time, with an influence that can still be felt today. Book jacket.