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The Wailers' biography, lyrics, members, discography and more info.

Biography

196x

  • Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, Winston Hubert "Peter" McIntosh, Neville O'Riley "Bunny" Livingston and Franklin Delano Alexander "Junior" Braithwaite learned breath control, harmony techniques, music theory and songwriting from Jamaican singer / arranger / composer Joe Higgs. Higgs gave free music lessons at his yard on Third Street in Trench Town, Jamaica. He was a devout rasta.
  • Bob, Peter, Bunny, Junior, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Green joined to start "The Teenagers" vocal group in 1963. The group was renamed "The Wailing Rudeboys", "The Wailing Wailers" and last "The Wailers".
  • The Wailers musical influences included Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and The Impressions (led by Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler). Artists like The Drifters (led by Ben E. King), The Moonglows, and The Tams. Songs like "Shop Around" (by The Miracles) and "Do You Love Me" (by The Contours).
  • The Wailers recorded their first single "Simmer Down" (produced by Clement Dodd) and signed a deal with Clement Dodd's Studio One in 1963.
  • Junior left The Wailers in 1964, August. He moved to the United States to study medicine. Beverly and Cherry left The Wailers later on.
  • Bob left The Wailers temporary in 1966, February. He moved to the United States to live with his mother and work in a factory.
  • Constantine Anthony "Vision" Walker joined The Wailers in 1966.
  • Bob rejoined The Wailers in 1966, October. He moved back to Jamaica.
  • The Wailers started the "Wail N' Soul M'" label in 1966.
  • Bunny left The Wailers temporary in 1967. He was arrested and sentenced to 14 months in prison for marijuana possession.
  • The Wailers signed a non-exclusive deal with Danny Sims' JAD Records in 1967.
  • Vision left The Wailers in 1968.
  • Bunny rejoined The Wailers in 1968, September.
  • The Wailers worked with Leslie Kong.

197x

  • The Wailers worked with Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1970.
  • Bassist Aston Francis "Family Man" Barrett and drummer Carlton Lloyd "Carlie" Barrett joined The Wailers in 1970.
  • The Wailers started the "Tuff Gong" label in 1971.
  • The Wailers signed a deal with Chris Blackwell's Island Records and recorded the album "Catch A Fire" in 1972. "Catch A Fire" was the first international Reggae album.
  • Earl Wilber Force "Wire" Lindo joined The Wailers in 1973.
  • The Wailers recorded the album "Burnin'" in 1973.
  • The Wailers toured the United Kingdom in 1973, April.
Live At Leeds 1973
Neville "Bunny" Livingston, Earl "Wire" Lindo, Robert "Bob" Marley, Carlton "Carlie" Barrett, Winston "Peter" McIntosh and Aston "Family Man" Barrett.
The Wailers @ Leeds 1973
By Adrian Boot
  • Bunny left The Wailers in 1973. He refused to tour outside of Jamaica.
  • The Wailers toured the United States in 1973. Joe Higgs replaced Bunny in the tour.
  • Peter left The Wailers in 1973. Chris Blackwell refused to issue his first solo album.
  • "Natty Dread" by "Bob Marley & The Wailers" was released in 1974
  • "Legalize It" by "Peter Tosh" was released in 1976
  • "Blackheart Man" by "Bunny Wailer" was released in 1976

198x

  • Peter, Bunny, Junior and Vision recorded songs for The Wailers' "The Never Ending Wailers" album in 1986.
  • Bunny, Junior and Vision performed the song "Together Again" at the Madison Square Garden in 1986.

Members

Name Years Roles
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley 1963-1973 Lead and backing vocals, guitar
Winston Hubert "Peter" McIntosh 1963-1973 Lead and backing vocals, guitar, organ, piano
Neville O'Riley "Bunny" Livingston 1963-1973 Lead and backing vocals, percussion
Franklin Delano Alexander "Junior" Braithwaite 1963-1964 Backing and lead vocals
Beverly Kelso 1963-1965 Backing vocals
Ermine Ortense "Cherry Green" Bramwell 1963-1966 Backing vocals
Constantine Anthony "Vision" Walker 1966-1968 Backing vocals
Aston Francis "Family Man" Barrett 1970-1973 Bass guitar
Carlton Lloyd "Carlie" Barrett 1970-1973 Drums
Earl Wilber Force "Wire" Lindo 1973 Keyboards
Joe Higgs 1973 Backing vocals, percussion

Discography

Catch A Fire
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Catch A Fire

1972
  1. Concrete Jungle
  2. Stir It Up
  3. High Tide Or Low Tide *
  4. Stop That Train
  5. 400 Years
  6. Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)
  7. Midnight Ravers
  8. All Day All Night *
  9. Slave Driver
  10. Kinky Reggae
  11. No More Trouble

* Deluxe Ed. bonus track.
Burnin'
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Burnin'

1973
  1. Get Up, Stand Up
  2. Hallelujah Time
  3. I Shot The Sheriff
  4. Burnin' And Lootin'
  5. Put It On
  6. Small Axe
  7. Pass It On
  8. Duppy Conqueror
  9. One Foundation
  10. Rasta Man Chant
  11. Reincarnated Souls *
  12. No Sympathy *
  13. The Oppressed Song *

* Deluxe Ed. bonus track.
The Never Ending Wailers
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The Never Ending Wailers

1993
  1. I'm Still Wailing *
  2. Dutch Pot **
  3. Hammer *
  4. Rescue Me **
  5. [It] Hurts To Be Alone *
  6. Together Again **
  7. Music Lesson *
  8. Nice Time **
  9. How Many Times *
  10. Coolie Plum Tree

* Original vocals recorded in 1971.
** Recorded in 1986.

Noteworthy Compilations

Album Years Highlights
Simmer Down At Studio One Simmer Down
At Studio One 		1963-1966
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  • Simmer Down
  • It Hurts To Be Alone
  • Lonesome Feeling
  • There She Goes
  • One Love
Destiny: Rare Ska Sides From Studio One Destiny: Rare Ska Sides
From Studio One 		1964-1966
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  • Wages Of Love
  • Don't Ever Leave Me
  • Another Dance
  • Dance With Me
  • Do It Right
The Wailing Wailers At Studio One The Wailing Wailers
At Studio One 		1965-1968
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  • I'm Still Waiting
  • Wages Of Love
  • Cry To Me
  • Can't You See
  • Rolling Stone
Fy-Ah, Fy-Ah Fy-Ah, Fy-Ah
[Box Set] 		1966-1970
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  • The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow
  • How Many Times
  • There She Goes
  • Chances Are
  • Mellow Mood
Grooving Kingston 12 Grooving Kingston 12
[Box Set] 		1970-1971
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  • Lively Up Yourself
  • Trenchtown Rock
  • Who Is Mr. Brown
  • Small Axe
  • Music Gonna Teach
Man To Man Man To Man
[Box Set] 		1970-1971
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  • Duppy Conqueror
  • Stand Alone
  • Don't Rock My Boat
  • Pass It On
  • Hammer

More Info

The Definitive Discography
Bob Marley And The Wailers
The Definitive Discography

By Roger Steffens & Leroy Jodie Pierson

Full details on every recording
by Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer & Bob Marley.

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One Love
One Love
Life With Bob Marley And The Wailers

By Lee Jaffe

Introduction and interview
by Roger Steffens.

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Catch A Fire
Classic Albums
Bob Marley And The Wailers
Catch A Fire

[DVD] The songs and story of this classic album
with contributions by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh,
Bunny Wailer and Chris Blackwell.

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