1 / 17 photos Bob Marley

Bob Marley was named Nesta Robert at birth and nicknamed 'Tuff Gong' as a teenager for his ability to defend himself in Jamaica's Trenchtown ghetto.

Bob Marley began growing his hair into dreadlocks after converting to the Rastafarian religion in the late 1960s.

The Wailers in 1973 consisted of Earl 'Wire' Lindo, Aston 'Family Man' Barrett, Bob Marley, Peter McIntosh 'Tosh', Carlton 'Carly' Barrett, and Neville 'Bunny' Livingston.

Bob Marley moved to England after he is shot in an assassination attempt at his home in Jamaica on December 3rd, 1976.

We call ourselves de Wailers… because we started out cryin', Bob Marley explained, referring to the hardships band members experienced growing up in poverty in Jamaica.

Bob Marley and The Wailers performed at the Roxy in Los Angeles during the 'Survival' tour in 1979 to benefit the Sugar Ray Robinson foundation.

Before achieving global success, Bob Marley and The Wailers shared concert billing with a relatively unknown Bruce Springsteen and opened for Sly and The Family Stone.

Bob Marley and The Wailers were presented with a gold record for the successful sales of the 1980 album 'Uprising'.

Bob Marley died on May 11th in 1981 and received a Rastafarian funeral service at the Ethiopian Orthodox church in Jamaica on May 21st. He was laid to rest in a mausoleum in his birthplace of Nine Miles.

Wife Rita at Marley’s funeral with their sons Stephen and David ‘Ziggy’ Marley. Hundreds of people attended the funeral including the Prime Minister of Jamaica Edward Segea.

Bob Marley’s widow, Rita, and their daughter Cedella both keep the Marley legacy going strong through many ventures including the charitable Bob Marley foundation and the Catch a Fire clothing company, named after The Wailers 1973 album.

Cedella Marley Booker, performs at a Rasta Festival in Ethiopia on February 2nd 2005 in honor of her son’s, Bob Marley’s, 60th Birthday.

Rita Marley launches her book 'No Woman, No Cry', about her life with husband Bob Marley, in 2005.

Ziggy Marley, the eldest son of Rita and Bob Marley, embarked on a singing career with his brothers and sisters Stephen, Sharon, and Cedella, winning a Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 1989 for the album 'Conscious Party'.

Bob Marley’s sons, Rohan, Damian, Stephen and Ziggy attend the launch of the Tuff Gong clothing line in 2005.

A bronze statue of the legendary reggae artist Bob Marley stands in the Celebrity Park outside the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

Bob Marley helped introduce reggae music to the world and remains one of its most beloved artists to this day.