How Bob Marley Recorded His First Song: A Producer Made Him Who He Is TODAY
Bob Marley’s journey to making his first song began in the small village of Nine Mile, Jamaica, where he was born in 1945. Growing up in Kingston’s tough Trenchtown neighborhood, Marley was surrounded by music, particularly the sounds of ska and rhythm and blues that filled the streets. Inspired by American artists like Ray Charles and Curtis Mayfield, as well as local Jamaican music, he developed a deep love for singing and songwriting.
Marley’s first steps into music were alongside his childhood friend Neville "Bunny" Livingston (later Bunny Wailer). The two would practice harmonies together and dream of making it big. In the early 1960s, they met Peter Tosh, another aspiring musician, and the trio began refining their sound.
In 1962, at just 17 years old, Bob Marley got his first real opportunity to record music. A local producer named Leslie Kong, who ran Beverley’s Records, recognized Marley’s potential and invited him to cut a song. With excitement and nerves, Marley stepped into the studio to record his first solo track, *Judge Not*.
*Judge Not* was a ska-influenced song with a strong moral message, a theme that would later define much of Marley’s work. The song’s lyrics urged people not to judge others harshly, reflecting the wisdom Marley had gained from his difficult upbringing. The young singer poured his emotions into the recording, his voice carrying a mix of innocence and determination.
Though *Judge Not* was released as a single, it didn’t gain much attention at the time. Marley also recorded *Do You Still Love Me?* and *One Cup of Coffee* under Kong’s label, but none of these early songs made him a star. However, they marked an important beginning—Marley had officially entered the music industry.
After these initial recordings, Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh formed *The Wailers*, a group that would soon become legendary. They worked with legendary producer Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, where they refined their harmonies and developed a more distinctive reggae sound. Over time, Marley’s songwriting deepened, influenced by his Rastafarian beliefs, social struggles, and desire for unity.
Though *Judge Not* may not have been a major hit, it was the stepping stone for Marley’s iconic career. From that first recording, he went on to become a global symbol of reggae, peace, and resistance, with songs like *No Woman, No Cry*, *Redemption Song*, and *One Love* changing the world of music forever.
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