Death of a reggae legend
1981
Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley, who is credited with bringing reggae into popular pop music, died at the age of 36 in July 1977.
A devout Rastafarian, 2005 Marley reportedly passed away due to melanoma cancer — a cancer which only affects white people. His father was a white Jamaican of English descent.
Even after his death his music has outsold any other reggae artist in history. In 2004, Irish singer Bono inducted Marely in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Earlier to that in 2001, he was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Marley had numerous hit singers with perhaps 1981’s ‘No Woman No Cry’ being the song that he is most remembered for.
In 1990, February 6 was declared a national holiday in Jamaica to commemorate his birth.
His 1984 compilation album, Legend, is the best-selling reggae album ever with sales of more than 20 million copies. Time magazine also voted Exodus as best album of the 20th century.
The first-ever road song about freedom
1965
American singer-songwriter Roger Miller wrote one of the earliest known songs about freedom with ‘King of the Road’ a No. 1 hit in the American Country Charts.
Miller said that the lifestyle of hobo’s provided the inspiration for the song that became a massive hit and won five Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Rock and Roll Single, Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Best Country & Western Recording, Best Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song.
The song was covered by many major artists including Dean Martin, Randy Travis and the Proclaimers, who also enjoyed chart success with their 1990 version.
Woodstock goes gold after release
1970
There have not been too many triple albums released with the exception the soundtrack from music’s most famous festival, Woodstock.
When it was released in the US it sold in bucket loads going gold within two weeks.
The album featured tracks by an amazing array of artists including Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Canned Heat, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Santana and others.
The music runs for close to two hours and 20 minutes.
Even today, it boasts a significant place in the pantheon of rock music and is a must-have for an genuine music collector.
