On This Day in 1945

The release of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1972 album Catch a Fire marked an international breakthrough for Reggae music, which had remained largely unheard outside of Jamaica because of the uneasy state of the country’s record industry. Now regarded as something of a demigod in his homeland, Marley’s music—which included songs such as “No Woman No Cry” and “Satisfy My Soul”—spoke to a global audience in the 60s and 70s via sweet, melodious hooks and uplifting lyrics that preached peace, happiness, and spiritual wholeness. Since his tragic death from cancer at the age of 36 in 1981, he has been remembered as a style icon, cultural hero and musical genius, though it was not until 2001 that he was posthumously awarded the Grammy award for Lifetime Achievement. He was born on this day in 1945.