Video: 'Bob Marley Death News Announcement (May 11, 1981)'

(Monday, May 11, 1981, 11:45 a.m. EDT) — Bob Marley, international superstar and popularizer of the hard-driving Jamaican reggae music, died today at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (later University of Miami Hospital) in Miami after a long battle with cancer. He was 36.

Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style.

Video: 'Bob Marley - Legendary Reggae Singer-Songwriter | Mini Bio | BIO'

Marley’s contributions to music increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide, and made him a global figure in popular culture for over a decade.

Video: 'Marley (A Film By Kevin Macdonald)'

Over the course of his career Marley became known as a Rastafari icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality. He is also considered a global symbol of Jamaican music and culture and identity, and was controversial in his outspoken support for the legalization of marijuana.