Reggae Bob Marley: A Brief Biography Early Life: Robert Nesta Marley, known globally as Bob Marley, was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. He was the son of Norval Sinclair Marley, a white Jamaican of English descent, and Cedella Booker, a black Jamaican. Marley's mixed-race heritage made him an outsider, a theme that would influence his music and his life. Musical Beginnings: Marley's musical career began in earnest when he formed a band called the Wailers with friends Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh in 1963. Initially, the Wailers were influenced by the popular music styles of ska and rocksteady. Their first single, "Simmer Down," became a Jamaican hit in 1964. Rise to Fame: In the early 1970s, the Wailers began to gain international recognition. Their collaboration with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry was pivotal, resulting in some of their most influential early reggae tracks. In 1972, the band signed with Island Records, whic