To have to leave this mortal coil at the height of your career, and at the top of your game, is certainly one of the tragic truths to befall Bob Marley. At the time he departed mother earth, he had the largest following of his career, and the message he preached in his music and through his beliefs was reaching a critical mass. Bob Marley and the Wailers were attracting the biggest audiences ever during their 1980 tour. Larger than they had ever seen, and larger than any touring band had ever seen.
Exiting stage left at this point in your career is certainly one way to guarantee legendary status for years to come. While it's true that an untimely death, or the death of any pop culture superstar often spikes a resurgence of their popularity, few have sustained it for such an extended period. It has now been over twenty five years since Bob passed away. His popularity through his music, beliefs, art, and posters continues to win over new fans generation after generation.
The ongoing and ever growing saga and myth that is Bob Marleys, was truly cross cultural in its truth. While he often sang about oppression and slavery as it had happened to people of Africa, the effect didn't just top at the African border. Because there was so much truth in the words and the music, the message reached across borders. Where ever there are people, there lives a smattering of oppression and injustice amongst peace, love and harmony. As long as there were people to listen Bob Marleys music was able to find an audience. His message was universal and mostly of all it was human. It spoke to the humanity in all of us, regardless of our position, wealth or current beliefs.
Bob Marley didn't just sing about the darker side of humanity, he recognized both the best of humanity it his words and music as well. Just take a look at some current day Bob Marley posters, to get a glimpse into the soul of the man. Some of the most uplifting music ever recorded sprang from his talents.
One Love. One Heart. Feel all right. Three Little Birds. These are not the words of a man dragged down by the darker side. A true artist uses his gifts to express and represent all human emotion. He sees the larger picture and paints it all. It is an even handed representation of the world in which we live. |
