When Did Bob Marley Die?

We all know the reggae god Bob Marley and how he revolutionized the genre, but when did Bob Marley Die? And why did it happen at such a young age?

Bob Marley died of cancer at the age of 36 on May 11, 1981. What's interesting about his death is that the form of melanoma that eventually killed him may have been treatable, but the treatment conflicted with Marley's Rastafarian beliefs. Marley suffered from a strain of skin cancer that started on his foot but eventually spread upwards to vital organs. Doctors initially wanted to amputate his leg but Marley refused. According to some of the Rastafarian beliefs, the body must remain whole and amputation was considered unholy. In 1981, he lost his battle with cancer, and we lost one of the greatest musical artists of all time.

Born Robert Nesta Marley, Bob started his musical journey at age 18, as a founding member of the musical group, The Teenagers, which eventually became The Wailers. While the group had a couple of hits in the late 60's with songs such as "Stir it Up" and "Rude Boy Ska", it wasn't until the 1970's when their music became well-known. Although the Wailers officially broke up in 1974, Bob continued to perform under the name "Bob Marley and the Wailers" and penned such memorable hits as "No Woman, No Cry" and "Revolution".

Marley performed his last concert at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh in September of 1980. The music and life that Marley celebrated still lives on. In 2011, Marley posthumously received the Order of Merit from the Jamaican government for his contributions to the culture and music. With his mixture of ska, reggae and political upheaval, Bob's music brought world music to the masses and while the man has long since passed on, his spirit continues on. Today, many current and established musical artists still recognize Bob Marley as one of their greatest musical influences.