Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley (February 6, 1945 - May 11, 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the ska, rocksteady and reggae bands The Wailers (The Wailers (reggae band)) (1964-1974) and Bob Marley & The Wailers (1974-1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread both Jamaican music (Music of Jamaica) and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.

Marleys best known hits include "I Shot the Sheriff", "No Woman, No Cry", "Could You Be Loved", "Stir It Up", "Jamming (Jamming (song))", "Redemption Song", "One Love (One Love (Bob Marley song))" and, together with The Wailers, "Three Little Birds", as well as the posthumous releases "Buffalo Soldier (Buffalo Soldier (song))" and "Iron Lion Zion". The compilation album, Legend (Legend (Bob Marley & The Wailers album)) (1984), released three years after his death, is reggaes best-selling album, being 10 times Platinum (Music recording sales certification) (Diamond (Music recording sales certification)) in the U.S., and selling 20 million copies worldwide.cite weburl=Earners for 2004publisher=Forbesaccessdate=November 30, 2008page=9first=Peterlast=Newcombcite weburl=in the moneypublisher=iAfricaaccessdate=November 30, 2008