2016-05-11 Wed

Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist.

He served as a world ambassador for reggae music and sold more than 20 million records throughout his career - making him the first international superstar to emerge from the “Third World”. He was a committed Rastafari who infused his music with a sense of spirituality.

He started out in 1963 with the group called ‘The Wailers’. A local record producer, Leslie Kong, liked Marley's vocals and had him record a few singles, the first of which was "Judge Not," released in 1962. Marley found success joining forces with his friends. In 1963, Marley, Livingston, and McIntosh formed the Wailing Wailers. Their first single, "Simmer Down," went to the top of the Jamaican charts in January 1964.

The Wailers' big break came in 1972 when they landed a contract with Island Records. After the Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career in England and released the album Exodus in 1977, which made him famous worldwide and produced his status as one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million records.

Diagnosed with malignant melanoma he died in Miami, Florida, on May 11, 1981. In 2011, the Republic of Burundi issued a set of four stamps commemorating the famous singers (musicians). One of the four features Bob Marley on them.

The Republic of Guinea in 2011 issued a special souvenir sheet to commemorate the 30th death anniversary of Bob Marley.

Countries like Dagestan, Grenada, Mozambique, Chad, Myanmar, and Jamaica also have issued many stamps of various denominations to honour this legendary musician of all the times.