Bob Marley was a Jamaican musician, singer-songwriter, and Rastafarian. He was the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the ska, rocksteady, and reggae bands The Wailers (1964 - 1974) and Bob Marley & the Wailers (1974 - 1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to the worldwide audience.