"One good thing about music, when it hits - you feel no pain"

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    Bob Marley was one of the most famous singer, songwriter and musicians of reggae music. Marley was regarded as a national hero not only in Jamaica, but all over the world as well. At a young age Marley grew to love music. Marley grew up and attended school in Kingston, where music from the United States was played on the radio and through jukeboxes. Marley liked such artists as Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and the Drifters. One of his childhood friends was Neville "Bunny" Livingston. The two attended the same school and shared a love of music; Bunny was the inspiration for Bob learning to play the guitar. At age 14, Marley dropped out of school and he and Bunny devoted most of their time to music. Not long after leaving school, Marley met Joe Higgs, who was a local musician that mentored young singers in his yard and began working with Marley on improving his singing abilities. It was at a daily jam session with Higgs and Livingston that Marley met Peter McIntosh another student of Higgs’ and the three began performing on street corners. Joe Higgs was the man who taught the trio to harmonize. At the age of 17, Jimmy Cliff, another local reggae musician, introduced Marley to Leslie Kong who was Jamaica’s leading producer of local music.  Kong produced Marley's first recorded singles, "Judge Not” and “One Cup of Coffee”. The two songs were released on Kong’s Beverley label but did not attract much attention. Marley did not do so well as a solo artist, but found success after joining a group with his friends.