Early Music Career

After dropping out of school in 1962, Bob Marley met Joe Higgs and Peter Tosh and recorded his first two singles, “Judge Not” and “One Cup of Coffee”. The songs were released on Beverley’s Label. In 1963, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith, formed their own “rock steady” group, calling it “The Teenagers”. Later the named would be changed to “The Wailing Rudeboys”, then to “The Wailing Wailers”, then finally to the group’s final name, “The Wailers”. By the year 1966, Braithwaite, Smith, and Kelso had left the band, leaving Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer as the bands only members. They went on to create hits like, “Stay With Me” and “Splish for My Splash”. Later the band signed with Island Records. In April, 1973, The Wailers released their first hit album called, “Catch a Fire” which found audiences across the reggae and rock fan base. They were scheduled seventeen shows in the United States and became the number one black act in the U.S. They were fired for being more popular than the acts they were opening for. In 1974 the band split up to take on personal careers. Many say the split up of the band because of disputes about performances.