Bob Marley

As the most popular and influential reggae musician of all time, Bob Marley was the first superstar to emerge from a developing country while establishing himself as the voice of protest for the world's oppressed peoples. In joining forces with future reggae stars Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh, Marley rose to international acclaim as the front man for The Wailers with such acclaimed albums as Catch a Fire (1973) and Burnin' (1974). But as soon as the group started to become known outside of Jamaica, the three decided to pursue their own solo careers. While they all achieved a great deal of individual success, it was Marley who went on to legendary status. Now touring and recording as Bob Marley and the Wailers, the artist spent the next six years recording some of his finest music with albums like Rastaman Vibration (1976), Exodus (1977) and the live recording Babylon by Bus (1978). Marley's influence was felt far and wide with song like "No Woman, No Cry," "Is This Love" and "Jamming," all of which helped advance the popularity of reggae music across the world. But following the successful release of his final studio album, Uprising (1980), Marley fell ill and discovered cancer rapidly spreading through his body. Following his death in 1981, his stature only grew, particularly following the compilation album, Legend (1984), which became the biggest seller of his career. Because of his enormous popularity, Marley was the face of reggae music and one of the most influential musicians of the late 20th century, thanks in part to his outspoken dedication to speaking for those without a voice.