Bob Marley & The Wailers

Out of the tough suburbs of Kingston, Jamaica came Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. Led by Marley, they would export reggae, Rastafarianism and Jamaican culture to the world.

As the Wailing Wailers they had their first single success in 1964 with "Simmer Down", and followed it up with a string of singles that would earn them the position as the biggest band in Jamaica.

The band's success grew with each album, though it was Eric Clapton's cover of "I Shot The Sheriff" from Burnin' that drew the world's attention.

In 1974 Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the band, the new line-up would be: Bob Marley on guitar and vocals, Carlton Barrett on drums, Aston Barrett on bass, Junior Marvin and Al Anderson on lead guitar, Tyrone Downie and Earl Lindo on keyboards and Alvin Patterson on percussion. Finishing off the line-up was the vocal trio The I Threes featuring Bob Marley's wife Rita, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths.

International success came with the single "No Woman, No Cry" from the Natty Dread album, and the follow-up Rastaman Vibration went to the Top 10 in the Billboard Charts.

After an attempt on Bob Marley's life he moved to the UK, where he already had a strong following. The next album Exodus spent over a year in the UK charts and went on to be named as the 'Album of the Century' by Time magazine.

With the band's political awareness and independence stance demonstrated in tracks such as "Africa Unite" and "Zimbabwe", the band were invited to perform at Zimbabwe's Independence Day celebrations in 1980.

After Bob Marley's death from cancer in 1981 the band were led by Junior Marvin and Aston Barrett. They still play today as the Wailers Band.