Bob Marley & The Wailers

Bob Marley & The Wailers formed in the Trenchtown neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica, founded by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. The group's lineup evolved considerably over the years, later incorporating rhythm players and the I-Threes vocal trio led by Rita Marley, but its foundation lay in the vocal harmony and songwriting partnership of its three founding members.

The Wailers helped bring reggae to a global audience, blending the genre's rolling rhythms with elements of ska and rocksteady in its early years before developing the more expansive, socially conscious sound that defined Marley's later career. Early hits recorded at Studio One, including «Simmer Down», established the group in Jamaica, while later work produced with Lee «Scratch» Perry, including the album Soul Rebels, deepened their reputation for both rhythmic innovation and pointed lyricism.

Following an assassination attempt on Marley in Jamaica, the group relocated to London, where they recorded Exodus, released through Island Records and home to enduring songs like «Jamming», «Waiting in Vain», «One Love / People Get Ready», and «Three Little Birds». Alongside anthems of love and unity, the group's catalog, including «No Woman, No Cry», «Redemption Song», «War», and «Buffalo Soldier», carried messages of resistance, spirituality, and social justice that gave reggae lasting international resonance.