Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as the Wailers and prior to that the Wailing Rudeboys, the Wailing Wailers and the Teenagers) were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Robert Nesta Marley), Peter Tosh (Winston Hubert McIntosh), and Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston).
During 1970 and 1971, Wailer, Marley and Tosh worked with renowned reggae producers Leslie Kong and Lee "Scratch" Perry.
Before signing to Island Records in 1972, the band released four albums. Two additional albums were produced before Tosh and Wailer departed from the band in 1974, citing dissatisfaction with their treatment by the label and ideological disagreements. Marley continued with a new lineup, which included the I-Threes, and went on to release seven more albums. Marley died from cancer in 1981, at which point the group disbanded.
The Wailers were a groundbreaking ska and reggae group, noted for songs such as "Simmer Down", "Trenchtown Rock", "Nice Time", "War", "Stir It Up" and "Get Up, Stand Up".
Also Known As: Bob Marley & the Wailers,The Teenagers,The Wailing Rudeboys,The Wailing, Wailers,The Wailers
Members:
Bob Marley - rhythm guitar, lead vocals (1963-1981; died 1981)
Peter Tosh - lead guitar, keyboard, vocals (1963-1974; died 1987)
Bunny Wailer - percussion, vocals (1963-1974; died 2021)
Cherry Smith - backing vocals (1963-1966; died 2008)
Beverley Kelso - backing vocals (1963-1965)
Junior Braithwaite - vocals (1963-1964; died 1999)
Constantine "Vision" Walker - backing vocals (1966-1967)
Aston "Family Man" Barrett - bass (1970-1981; died 2024)
Carlton Barrett - drums, percussion (1970-1981; died 1987)
Earl Lindo - keyboards (1973, 1978-1981; died 2017)
Tyrone Downie - keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (1974-1981; died 2022)
Rita Marley - backing vocals (1974-1981)
Marcia Griffiths - backing vocals (1974-1981)
Judy Mowatt - backing vocals (1974-1981)
Al Anderson - guitar (1974-1975, 1978-1981)
Seeco Patterson - percussion (1975-1981; died 2021)
Earl "Chinna" Smith - guitar (1975-1976)
Donald Kinsey - guitar (1975-1976, died 2024)
Junior Marvin - guitar, backing vocals (1977-1981)
From: Kingston, Jamaica
Genre(s):
Roots reggae,
ska,
rocksteady,
R&B
Active From: 1963-1981
Associated Acts:
Bob Marley,
Word,
The Wailers Band