'Bob Marley's music has made me a better person'

A Bob Marley superfan said listening to his music had "made him a better person" on what would have been the reggae legend's 80th birthday.

Robert Flake, 59, from Driffield, East Yorkshire, said he had first discovered Marley's music in his sister's record collection when he was a teenager and had listened "all the time" ever since.

He said he was inspired by Marley, who died of cancer aged 36 on 11 May 1981, for standing up for people without a voice, as his songs had messages filled with "unity and social change".

Mr Flake said he was spending the day listening to Marley's hits, including Jamming and Sun is Shining, in his garden shed that is filled with his records and posters.

He said: "It all started when I was about 13 or 14, as my sister had a really good record collection and she had a few good Bob Marley albums, so I started listening and have been ever since. I just listen to his music all the time.

"He has had a big influence in my life and always sang songs with messages in about unity and social changes and so I think listening to Bob Marley has made me a better person.

"He stood up for those who never had a voice and he wanted to unite the world and his music lives on today."

Marley was born on 6 February 1945 in Jamaica to a black mother and white father, whom he did not have much contact with as he was a naval officer who worked for the British government.

Marley moved to Britain in 1972 with his band The Wailers to tour with Johnny Nash, which led to them releasing an album called Catch a Fire and making their television debut on the BBC.

His career began to take off when his live recording of No Woman No Cry, which he sang at The Lyceum in London in 1975, was released as a single.

Mr Flake said he had visited Jamaica a number of times over the years and had even been to Marley's childhood home in Nine Mile.

He said: "Today there will be people from all over the world at his house, with events being held there and gospel choirs and people of all ages singing his songs.

"I think his music will outlive everybody. It is timeless."

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