Bob Marley & The Wailers
Encyclopedia
Bob Marley & The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae
, ska
and rocksteady
band formed by Bob Marley
, Peter Tosh
and Bunny Wailer
in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite
, Beverley Kelso
, Cherry Smith
and Aston
and Carlton Barrett
. The band came to an end with the death of Bob Marley in 1981.
Some of The Wailers most notable songs were recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry and his studio band The Upsetters
. During the early 1970s The Upsetters members Aston "Family Man" Barrett
and his brother Carlton (Carlie) Barrett
, formed the Wailers Band
, providing instrumental backing for The Wailers.
The Wailers recorded groundbreaking reggae songs such as "Simmer Down
", "Trenchtown Rock", "Nice Time", "War", "Stir It Up
" and "Get Up, Stand Up
".
The Wailers disbanded in 1974 due to Tosh and Livingston's refusal to tour. Bob Marley formed Bob Marley & The Wailers with Bob Marley himself as guitarist, songwriter and main singer, the Wailers Band as the backing band, and the I Threes
as backup vocalists. The Wailers Band included the brothers Carlton Barrett and "Family Man" Barrett on drums and bass respectively, Junior Marvin
and Al Anderson playing lead guitar, Tyrone Downie
and Earl "Wya" Lindo
playing keyboard, and Alvin "Seeco" Patterson
playing percussion. The I Threes, consisted of Bob Marley's wife Rita Marley
, Judy Mowatt
and Marcia Griffiths
.
Bob Marley & The Wailers, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer all enjoyed considerable success as reggae music continued to gain popularity during the 1970s and 1980s.
Several of the group's members have died subsequent to Marley's death in 1981: Carlton Barrett and Tosh in 1987, Braithwaite in 1999, and Smith in 2008. Bunny Wailer
and Beverley Kelso
are the only surviving members of the group's original line-up.
Bob Marley & The Wailers timeline
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
and rocksteady
Rocksteady
Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966. A successor to ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups such as The Gaylads, The Maytals and The Paragons. The term rocksteady comes from a dance style that was mentioned in the Alton...
band formed by Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
, Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
and Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer, , also known as Bunny Livingston and affectionately as Jah B, is a singer songwriter and percussionist and was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh...
in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite
Junior Braithwaite
Franklin Delano Alexander Braithwaite, better known as Junior Braithwaite, was a reggae musician from Kingston, Jamaica, the youngest member of the vocal group, The Wailing Wailers. The Wailing Wailers was a vocal group Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer started in 1963, together with Braithwaite, when...
, Beverley Kelso
Beverley Kelso
Beverley Kelso is a Jamaican singer. She was a backing vocalist, and one of the founding members of The Wailers . The death of Junior Braithwaite in 1999 and the death of Cherry Smith in 2008 left Kelso and Bunny Wailer as the only surviving founding members of the Wailers Beverley Kelso is a...
, Cherry Smith
Cherry Smith
Cherry Smith was a backing vocalist for the original Wailers from 1963 to 1966.Smith was also called Cherry Green , but was born Ermine Ortense Bramwell in the Trench Town district of Kingston. She was nicknamed "Cherry" as a girl due to her light complexion...
and Aston
Aston Barrett
Aston Barrett , often called "Family Man" or "Fams" for short, is a Jamaican bass player and Rastafarian.-Biography:...
and Carlton Barrett
Carlton Barrett
Carlton "Carly" Barrett was an influential reggae drummer and percussion player. His musical development in the early years were with his brother Aston "Family Man" Barrett as a member of Lee "Scratch" Perry's "house band" The Upsetters. The brothers joined Bob Marley and The Wailers around 1970...
. The band came to an end with the death of Bob Marley in 1981.
History
They were known variously as The Teenagers, The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers and finally The Wailers. By 1966 Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith had left the band, which then consisted of the trio Livingston, Marley and Tosh (Neville Livingston being the birth name of Bunny Wailer).Some of The Wailers most notable songs were recorded with Lee "Scratch" Perry and his studio band The Upsetters
The Upsetters
The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. The name of the band comes from Perry's nickname of Upsetter, after his song "I Am The Upsetter", a musical dismissal of his former boss Coxsone Dodd....
. During the early 1970s The Upsetters members Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Aston Barrett
Aston Barrett , often called "Family Man" or "Fams" for short, is a Jamaican bass player and Rastafarian.-Biography:...
and his brother Carlton (Carlie) Barrett
Carlton Barrett
Carlton "Carly" Barrett was an influential reggae drummer and percussion player. His musical development in the early years were with his brother Aston "Family Man" Barrett as a member of Lee "Scratch" Perry's "house band" The Upsetters. The brothers joined Bob Marley and The Wailers around 1970...
, formed the Wailers Band
Wailers Band
The Wailers Band are a reggae band formed by the remaining members of Bob Marley & The Wailers, following the death of Bob Marley in 1981.-Previous Wailers' incarnations:The Wailers started as Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh...
, providing instrumental backing for The Wailers.
The Wailers recorded groundbreaking reggae songs such as "Simmer Down
Simmer Down
"Simmer Down" was the first single released by The Wailers, accompanied by the ska supergroup, The Skatalites, and produced by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1963...
", "Trenchtown Rock", "Nice Time", "War", "Stir It Up
Stir It Up
"Stir It Up" is a song composed by Bob Marley in 1967, written for his wife Rita, and first made popular by Johnny Nash. Nash's recording hit the top 15 in both Britain and America in 1972....
" and "Get Up, Stand Up
Get Up, Stand Up
"Get Up, Stand Up" is a reggae song written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.The song originally appeared on The Wailers' 1973 album Burnin. It was recorded and played live in numerous versions by The Wailers and Bob Marley & The Wailers, along with solo versions by Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer...
".
The Wailers disbanded in 1974 due to Tosh and Livingston's refusal to tour. Bob Marley formed Bob Marley & The Wailers with Bob Marley himself as guitarist, songwriter and main singer, the Wailers Band as the backing band, and the I Threes
I Threes
The I Threes were a Jamaican reggae singing group made up of three women, that was formed in 1974 to support Bob Marley & The Wailers after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer — the original Wailer backing vocalists — left the band....
as backup vocalists. The Wailers Band included the brothers Carlton Barrett and "Family Man" Barrett on drums and bass respectively, Junior Marvin
Junior Marvin
Junior Marvin also known as Junior Marvin-Hanson, Junior Hanson and Junior Kerr. He is a Jamaican born guitarist and singer and is best known for his association with Bob Marley and The Wailers. He started his career as Junior Marvin with the band Hanson in 1973...
and Al Anderson playing lead guitar, Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie is a Jamaican keyboardist/pianist who is most known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and The Wailers. He studied at Kingston College and joined the wailers in the mid-1970s, making his recording début with the band on Rastaman Vibration, having previously been a member of...
and Earl "Wya" Lindo
Earl Lindo
Earl "Wire" Lindo, b. 7 January 1953 is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is a member of The Wailers and has collaborated with numerous reggae artists including Burning Spear.-Biography:...
playing keyboard, and Alvin "Seeco" Patterson
Alvin Patterson
Alvin "Seeco" Patterson is a Jamaican born percussionist. He was a member of The Wailers Band.-References:...
playing percussion. The I Threes, consisted of Bob Marley's wife Rita Marley
Rita Marley
Alpharita Constantia Anderson , better known as Rita Marley, and sometimes called "Nana Rita", is the widow of reggae legend/musician Bob Marley, and a member of the trio the I Threes, Bob Marley's backup singers.-Biography:...
, Judy Mowatt
Judy Mowatt
Judy Mowatt was born in the year 1948 in Gordon Town, St. Andrew Jamaica. She is an internationally acclaimed reggae artist who rose to fame as 1/3 of the trio the I THREE who were the Back-Ground vocalists for Bob Marley.-Biography:...
and Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Llyneth Griffiths is a successful female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".Griffiths started her career in 1964...
.
Bob Marley & The Wailers, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer all enjoyed considerable success as reggae music continued to gain popularity during the 1970s and 1980s.
Several of the group's members have died subsequent to Marley's death in 1981: Carlton Barrett and Tosh in 1987, Braithwaite in 1999, and Smith in 2008. Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer, , also known as Bunny Livingston and affectionately as Jah B, is a singer songwriter and percussionist and was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh...
and Beverley Kelso
Beverley Kelso
Beverley Kelso is a Jamaican singer. She was a backing vocalist, and one of the founding members of The Wailers . The death of Junior Braithwaite in 1999 and the death of Cherry Smith in 2008 left Kelso and Bunny Wailer as the only surviving founding members of the Wailers Beverley Kelso is a...
are the only surviving members of the group's original line-up.
Members
- Bob MarleyBob MarleyRobert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
– guitar, vocals (1963–1981) - Peter ToshPeter ToshPeter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
– guitar, keyboard, vocals (1963–1974) - Bunny WailerBunny WailerBunny Wailer, , also known as Bunny Livingston and affectionately as Jah B, is a singer songwriter and percussionist and was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh...
– percussion, vocals (1963–1974) - Junior BraithwaiteJunior BraithwaiteFranklin Delano Alexander Braithwaite, better known as Junior Braithwaite, was a reggae musician from Kingston, Jamaica, the youngest member of the vocal group, The Wailing Wailers. The Wailing Wailers was a vocal group Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer started in 1963, together with Braithwaite, when...
– vocals (1963–1964) - Beverley KelsoBeverley KelsoBeverley Kelso is a Jamaican singer. She was a backing vocalist, and one of the founding members of The Wailers . The death of Junior Braithwaite in 1999 and the death of Cherry Smith in 2008 left Kelso and Bunny Wailer as the only surviving founding members of the Wailers Beverley Kelso is a...
– backing vocals (1963–1965) - Cherry SmithCherry SmithCherry Smith was a backing vocalist for the original Wailers from 1963 to 1966.Smith was also called Cherry Green , but was born Ermine Ortense Bramwell in the Trench Town district of Kingston. She was nicknamed "Cherry" as a girl due to her light complexion...
– backing vocals (1963–1966) - Constantine Walker – backing vocals (1966–1967)
- Aston BarrettAston BarrettAston Barrett , often called "Family Man" or "Fams" for short, is a Jamaican bass player and Rastafarian.-Biography:...
– bass (1970–1981) - Hugh Malcolm – drums, percussion (1967–1972)
- Carlton BarrettCarlton BarrettCarlton "Carly" Barrett was an influential reggae drummer and percussion player. His musical development in the early years were with his brother Aston "Family Man" Barrett as a member of Lee "Scratch" Perry's "house band" The Upsetters. The brothers joined Bob Marley and The Wailers around 1970...
– drums, percussion (1970–1981) - Earl LindoEarl LindoEarl "Wire" Lindo, b. 7 January 1953 is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is a member of The Wailers and has collaborated with numerous reggae artists including Burning Spear.-Biography:...
– keyboards (1973–1981) - Junior MarvinJunior MarvinJunior Marvin also known as Junior Marvin-Hanson, Junior Hanson and Junior Kerr. He is a Jamaican born guitarist and singer and is best known for his association with Bob Marley and The Wailers. He started his career as Junior Marvin with the band Hanson in 1973...
– guitar, backing vocals (1974–1981) - Al AndersonAl AndersonAl Anderson is an American-born songwriter and guitarist.Anderson attended Montclair High School where he learned to play the trombone. He later attended the Berklee College of Music, and took up bass guitar...
– guitar (1974–1981) - Alvin PattersonAlvin PattersonAlvin "Seeco" Patterson is a Jamaican born percussionist. He was a member of The Wailers Band.-References:...
– percussion (1974–1981) - Rita MarleyRita MarleyAlpharita Constantia Anderson , better known as Rita Marley, and sometimes called "Nana Rita", is the widow of reggae legend/musician Bob Marley, and a member of the trio the I Threes, Bob Marley's backup singers.-Biography:...
– backing vocals (1974–1981) - Marcia GriffithsMarcia GriffithsMarcia Llyneth Griffiths is a successful female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".Griffiths started her career in 1964...
– backing vocals (1974–1981) - Judy MowattJudy MowattJudy Mowatt was born in the year 1948 in Gordon Town, St. Andrew Jamaica. She is an internationally acclaimed reggae artist who rose to fame as 1/3 of the trio the I THREE who were the Back-Ground vocalists for Bob Marley.-Biography:...
– backing vocals (1974–1981) - Tyrone DownieTyrone DownieTyrone Downie is a Jamaican keyboardist/pianist who is most known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and The Wailers. He studied at Kingston College and joined the wailers in the mid-1970s, making his recording début with the band on Rastaman Vibration, having previously been a member of...
– keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (1976–1981)
Bob Marley & The Wailers timeline
Discography
- The Wailing WailersThe Wailing Wailers-Track listing:All songs written by Robert Nesta Marley except where indicated.#" Put It On"#"I Need You#"Lonesome Feeling" #"What's New Pussycat" #"One Love"...
(1965) - Soul RebelsSoul RebelsSoul Rebels is an album by The Wailers, their first album to be released outside of Jamaica. The Wailers approached producer Lee Perry in August 1970 to record an entire album, and the sessions took place at Randy's Studio 17 in Kingston, Jamaica until November...
(1970) - Soul RevolutionSoul RevolutionSoul Revolution is an album by The Wailers. It was produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry and Bob Marley. The album was followed up with a "dub" companion set, Soul Revolution Part II, which was the original Soul Revolution album with the vocals stripped off.-Side one:#"Keep On Moving"#"Don't Rock My...
(1971) - The Best of The WailersThe Best of the WailersThe Best of the Wailers is an album by The Wailers, released in August 1971. Despite its title, it is not a compilation album. The album was recorded in 1969-1970 but only released in 1971....
(1971) - Catch a FireCatch a FireCatch a Fire is the major-label-debut album for Jamaican reggae band The Wailers, released on Island Records on 13 April 1973. The album established the band as international superstars. Leader Bob Marley in particular became world-famous...
(1973) - Burnin' (1973)
- Natty DreadNatty DreadNatty Dread is a 1974 reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers. An important transition in Marley's discography, Natty Dread was the first album released as Bob Marley & the Wailers and the first recorded without former bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer...
(1974) - Rastaman VibrationRastaman VibrationRastaman Vibration is a roots reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers released on April 30, 1976. The album was a great success in the USA, becoming the first Bob Marley release to reach the top ten on the Billboard 200 charts Rastaman Vibration is a roots reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers...
(1976) - Exodus (1977)
- KayaKaya (album)Kaya is a roots reggae album released by Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1978. The album consists of tracks recorded alongside those present on the Exodus album in 1977. The album has a very relaxed, laid back sound, lacking much of the militant quality of the Wailers lyrically and musically...
(1978) - Survival (1979)
- Uprising (1980)
- Confrontation (1983)
Tours
- Apr–Jul 1973: Catch a Fire TourCatch a Fire TourThe Catch a Fire was a concert tour organised to support the album Catch a Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers ....
(England, USA) - Oct–Nov 1973: Burnin' TourBurnin' TourThe Burnin' Tour was a concert tour organised to promote the album Burnin by Bob Marley & The Wailers ....
(USA, England) - Jun–Jul 1975: Natty Dread TourNatty Dread TourThe Natty Dread Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Natty Dread by Bob Marley & The Wailers.The tour began in Miami, Florida, on June 5, 1975, and ended in Manchester, England, on July 20, 1975. In late June Marley did 14 shows in seven days at Paul's Mall in Boston...
(USA, Canada, England) - Apr–Jul 1976: Rastaman Vibration TourRastaman Vibration TourThe Rastaman Vibration Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Rastaman Vibration by Bob Marley & The Wailers.The tour began at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, on April 23, 1976, and ended in Manchester, England, on June 27, 1976...
(USA, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, France, England, Wales) - May–Jun 1977: Exodus TourExodus TourThe Exodus Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers.The tour began at the Pavillon Baltard in Paris, France, on May 10, 1977, and involuntarily ended with four shows at the Rainbow Theatre in London in early June; actually there were six shows...
(France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, England) - May–Aug 1978: Kaya TourKaya TourThe Kaya Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Kaya by Bob Marley & The Wailers.The tour was initially set to begin in early May in Miami, Florida, but the first six shows had to be postponed due to lead guitarist Junior Marvin's cocaine problems. Therefore the tour began in Ann...
(USA, Canada, England, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium) - Apr–May 1979: Babylon by Bus TourBabylon by Bus TourThe Babylon by Bus Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Babylon by Bus by Bob Marley & The Wailers. It was also to popularize Marley and reggae music in Asia and Oceania....
(Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii) - Oct 1979–Jan 1980: Survival TourSurvival TourThe Survival Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Survival by Bob Marley & The Wailers. It was Marley's second-last tour.The tour started in Boston in late October 1979, and ended in Libreville, Gabon, on January 6, 1980...
(USA, Canada, Trinidad/Tobago, Bahamas, Gabon) - May–Sep 1980: Uprising TourUprising TourThe Uprising Tour was a concert tour organised to support the album Uprising by Bob Marley & The Wailers. It was Marley's last tour and the biggest music tour of Europe in that year....
(Switzerland, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, USA)
Further reading
- Masouri, JohnJohn MasouriJohn Masouri is a journalist, reviewer, contributor and author for reggae music and several of its musical off-shoots including dub, roots and dancehall....
(2007) Wailing Blues: The Story of Bob Marley's "Wailers" Wise Publications ISBN 1846096898 - Farley, ChristopherChristopher John FarleyFor the late comedian and SNL actor, see Chris Farley.Christopher John Farley is a Jamaican-born American journalist, columnist, and author.-Early life and education:...
(2007). Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley, Amistad Press ISBN 0060539925 - Goldman, VivienVivien GoldmanVivien Goldman is a British journalist, writer and musician. She was born in London, the child of two German-Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. She studied English and American literature at the University of Warwick...
(2007) The Book of Exodus: The Making and Meaning of Bob Marley and the Wailers' Album of the Century Three Rivers Press ISBN 1400052866