Natural Mystic

While sitting here on a winter's afternoon listening to Bob Marley Live in Paris 1980, hearing conversations in French off to my left, but recorded 26 years ago, I got to thinking about the amazing life he had.

From his impoverished childhood in Trenchtown, to playing the Smile Jamaica concert 48 hours after an assassination attempt, to uniting warring leaders onstage in Jamaica, ending civil war all while playing a song. The April 1978 concert in Kingston marked Marley's triumphant return from exile and the stunning on-stage handshake between Prime Minister Michael Manley and opposition leader Edward Seaga. Their political rivalry had spawned ruthless teams of ghetto gunmen and an outbreak of murder on the island. Not to mention spreading his tropical vibe all over the world, angry, happy, sunny, and dark, but always warm.


If you need more evidence of an illuminated life, simply review his list of kids, and birthdates. There is bound to be one your age.

.....like the bird in the tree the prisoner must be free.



Bob Marley had 12 children, three with his wife Rita. His children are, in order of birth:
Sharon, born November 23,1964, to Rita by another man before she married Bob, and adopted by Bob.
Cedella, born August 23, 1967, to Rita.
David "Ziggy", born October 17, 1968, to Rita.
Stephen, born April 20, 1972, to Rita.
Robert "Robbie", born May 16, 1972, to Pat Williams.
Rohan, born May 19, 1972, to Janet Hunt. Married to Lauryn Hill.
Karen, born 1973, to Janet Bowen.
Stephanie, born 1974?, to Rita by another man, and adopted by Bob.
Julian, born June 4, 1975, to Lucy Pounder.
Ky-Mani, born February 26, 1976, to Anita Belnavis.
Damian "Jr. Gong", born July 21, 1978, to Cindy Breakspeare.
Makeda, born May 30, 1981, to Yvette Crichton.