2016-05-25 Wed

The King of Reggae Music, Bob Marley has been depicted on Jamaican coins several times. In 1996, a Proof silver $50 coin and gold $100 coin (dated 1995) was issued to celebrate Marley’s 50th birth anniversary. These coins depicted Marley’s famous portrait on the reverse. Similarly in 2006, a 2005-dated coin, highlighted in .958 fine gold plating was issued on the singer’s 60th birth anniversary. A Proof gold $100, 1995 dated coin was issued in 2008, which are similar to the earlier coins.

Reggae is a genre of music which originated in Jamaica. It combines rock and roll and soul music together using moderate tempos with the accent on the offbeat. Bob Marley took reggae beyond Jamaica and introduced it to the world. His music was influenced by Rastafarianism, the unique Jamaican religion.

He teamed up with Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh to make a vocal group the Wailers and began recording in the early 1960s. His songs became so popular that John Nash recorded Marley’s song “Stir It Up” in 1973 and Eric Clapton recorded “I Shot the Sheriff” in 1974, in their own voices. Queen Elizabeth II of England awarded him the Order of Merit. He died early due to brain and lung cancer on 11th May, 1981.

In 1991, the 10th death anniversary of Bob Marley was observed by organizing a special concert in Jamaica. His name was also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in the same year.