“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!”

~ Bob Marley

I’ll never forget the moment I fell in love with the music of Bob Marley.

It was the summer after my freshman year of high school.

I was traveling on a school bus, full of wholesome, fun-loving teenagers, from Colorado to Mexico. We were on a mission work trip to volunteer at a Mexican orphanage.

It was a long, hot road trip.

To relieve the boredom of the endless highway, we’d play the hippest music on our ghetto blaster and dance in the aisles. Luckily for me, it was a diverse group of kids and hanging out with them helped me outgrow my sheltered upbringing.

One day I was restless and said, “Hey, let’s have a dance party.”

My friend, Martine, had a special treat for me—he played Bob Marley’s Legend. 

My life was changed forever. 

Bob

The music of Bob Marley was my new favorite feel good music.

I have never outgrown Bob Marley’s music. Throughout college, I wore out all of his records and have raised my kids on a steady diet of his tunes.

Marley’s music never does me wrong.

Anytime I’m feeling down, I simply put on a Bob Marley song and voila—smile, smile smile.

Little known facts about Bob Marley.

1.The Lion of Judah ring that Bob Marley is wearing on the cover of the Legend album first belonged to Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie—it was given to him by Selassie’s son.

2. Marley’s Legend spent 393 nonconsecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart—the fourth longest in history.

3. Bob Marley’s family created a Jamaican charity in honor of Bob Marley—1Love Foundation.

4. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the release of Legend, Ben & Jerry’s created ice cream flavor, Satisfy My Bowl.

5. Bob Marley fathered 11 children.

Happy birthday Bob Marley—February 6th.

Relephant:

The Greatest Bob Marley Quote, Ever.

Author: Ashleigh Hitchcock

Photo: Flickr/Jason H. Smith, flickr/Quandaro