33 Bob Marley Facts That May Surprise Even His Biggest Fans

Published November 1, 2017
Updated December 19, 2017

These fascinating Bob Marley facts reveal the man behind the legend and explain why he's beloved to this day.

Bob Marley is one of those incredibly rare musical artists whose songs not only remain popular years, even decades after they were recorded, but have also become ingrained in our very culture.

In Marley's case, his music has stretched across the globe, influencing artists genres ranging from hip-hop to rock, pop, folk, and even country. Even if you've never owned a Bob Marley album, there's a good chance you know the choruses to hits like "Three Little Birds," "One Love," or "No Woman, No Cry."

With classic songs like these, Marley and his band, the Wailers, were largely responsible for bringing reggae music to the world stage. Fans around the world connected both to the Wailers' enticing rhythms and to Marley's lyrics, which often addressed moving political and societal struggles.

It was this kind of empathy and outspokenness that has helped make Marley not just a star, but an icon, long after his passing. It's now been 36 years since Marley passed away from melanoma at the age of 36, but he's left a legacy that will continue to be embraced for generations to come.

The fascinating Bob Marley facts above help reveal why the world will never forget this inspiring man.


After checking out these Bob Marley facts, celebrate his wisdom with these inspirational Bob Marley quotes. Then, have a look at the greatest Bob Marley photos ever taken.

author
Joel Stice
author
Joel Stice holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with more than 10 years of experience in writing and editing, during which time his work has appeared on Heavy, Uproxx, and Buzzworthy.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
Based in Brooklyn, New York, John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of expertise include modern American history and the ancient Near East. In an editing career spanning 17 years, he previously served as managing editor of Elmore Magazine in New York City for seven years.
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Stice, Joel. "33 Bob Marley Facts That May Surprise Even His Biggest Fans." AllThatsInteresting.com, November 1, 2017, https://allthatsinteresting.com/bob-marley-facts. Accessed August 14, 2025.