Bob Marley almost singlehandedly made reggae an internationally popular musical style. With his magical songwriting skills, he succeeded in making its complex rhythms accessible to white listeners while retaining enormous credibility with black audiences. By the 1990s, the music was firmly absorbed into rock's rich tapestry.
Jamaican singer and guitarist Marley, who was born on , began his recording career in 1964. Backed by his band, the Wailers , he quickly became...