May 11, 2011 marked the 30th anniversary of the death of Jamaican reggae legend, Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley.

For those who were around when Bob died, at the very young age of 36, it is hard to believe that 30 years have passed. For others who were either very young or were born after 1981 when he died, Bob’s death may not even have fully registered.  Since his death his music has been so popular internationally, and his photographic images seen so often that it’s like he never left this world. Like other entertainment icons, Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Michael Jackson, Marley’s music has been more popular since his death.

Since then, Marley’s albums like ‘Burnin’, ‘Catch A Fire’, ‘Exodus’, ‘Legend’ and ‘Rastaman Vibration’ have raked in millions of dollars for the Marley estate.  In addition, millions more have been raised by the estate from sales of souvenir items, including a vast array of T-shirts depicting Marley’s image. Last year, he was designated as one of the icons of international music.

It still remains ironic that since his death Marley has become an iconic figure, particularly to so called upper-class Jamaicans. These people, when Marley lived, burning up the airwaves with his music, viewed him as a bad influence on the society because of his dreadlocks and publicly smoking the weed (marijuana). It’s no secret that Marley, when alive, was more popular in Africa, Europe and the United States than in Jamaica.

Looking back, the belated love affair, especially with the general Jamaican population, started during the latter days of his illness, when it was known that he was dying. As word of this spread, his music was played more often on Jamaican radio, and the quality of his genius became evident to more people.

Marley died from cancer, officially diagnosed as malignant melanoma. However, this eventually fatal illness originated from 1977 when he injured his big-toe in a football game with friends and some fellow musicians at his Hope Road, Jamaica residence. Despite local treatment, the wound would not heal, and was a concern to Marley.  Eventually, he saw a doctor who diagnosed he had cancer, and recommended the toe should be amputated. However, Marley, refuted that recommendation, and continued leading his Wailers and the I Threes (Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and his wife Rita) on international tours, tolerating the discomfort from the ailing toe.

However, the melanoma (cancer) was getting worse, while Marley’s music got better. In the late 1970’s to 1980 there was a marked mellowness and deeper  philosophy in his music as he released hits like “Redemption Song”, “I don’t want to Wait in Vain,” and “Turn the Lights Down Low.” Critics said he had grown soft, and others claimed he was influence by his love for then Miss Jamaica/Miss World, Cindy Breakspeare. Not many people knew, as was later revealed, that the cancer had metastasized over his body, and was reported to have spread to his brain.

Marley give one his most remarkable stage performance (his last) in Pittsburg in 1980 after collapsing a short time before while jogging in Central Park in New York where he had also performed. During the New York and Pittsburg shows Marley’s performance was phenomenal, and although he appeared gaunt, little was it known that he was actually dying.

After the Pittsburg performance, as the cancer worsened, Marley went to Germany to seek holistic treatment, but it was too late. He left Germany to return to Jamaica, but sought medical care on the way back in Miami, where he succumbed at the Cedars Sinai Hospital, the morning of May 11, 1981. It was a very sad day when Jamaica learned of Marley’s death, but really, that day, 30 years ago, was the beginning of the rest of the life of Bob Marley, the Legend.