Bob Nesta Marley

1. His original name was Nesta Robert Marley

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in the village of Nine Mile in Jamaica. His mother Cedella was barely 18 when he was born, his father was Marine Captain Norval Sinclair Marley, 41 years his senior. Although father Marley eventually married Cedella, his family disapproved of the marriage.

The baby was named Nesta Robert Marley, but a local official switched the two first names, allegedly because Nesta sounded too girly.

Bob Marley was raised primarily by his mother. He last saw his father when he was five years old. Norval died five years later.

2. Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer had the same half-sister

Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer (real name Neville Livingston) grew up together, first as friends and later as family. Bob's mother Cedella lived for a while with Bunny's father, with whom she had a daughter: Pearl.

3. Marley was a fighter

When Marley was a teenager, he moved with his mother to Trenchtown, a seedy suburb of the Jamaican capital Kingston. Marley quickly learned to defend himself. His image as a tough street fighter earned him the nickname Tuff Gong.

4. Bob Marley could 'predict' someone's future

Bob Marley was reportedly a gifted palm reader as a child, but he stopped doing so when he discovered music. Even later, he steadfastly refused to predict someone's future, even though his statements sometimes turned out to be horribly true.

In 1962, Marley met producer Leslie Kong. Kong released a number of Marley singles, but they failed to catch on and Marley was kicked out with $20. According to tradition, Marley told Kong that one day he would make a lot of money from Marley's songs, but he would never be able to enjoy them. Years later, Kong released a best of compilation of The Wailers against the will of the band. Not long after, Kong died of a heart attack at the age of 37.

5. No Marley song or album has ever received a Grammy

Although Bob Marley is one of the most legendary artists in modern history.