Jamaican PM hails ‘timeless’ Bob Marley on what would have been 80th birthday - He made the tribute as part of celebrations for what would have been the singer’s 80th birthday.

From the pulsating beat of the keteh drum courtesy of the iconic Bongo Herman to the musical stylings of the grandchildren of the late reggae legend, the celebrations held under the theme ‘Join the Uprising’ was a most fitting tribute to the King of Reggae.

Unfortunately, Marley fell ill and died on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36 at the peak of his career. The singer was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer called melanoma, under his big toenail in 1977. Marley initially believed it to be a football injury, but after a second doctor performed a biopsy, it was determined to be cancer.

The festivities begin Thursday with an ‘Uprising’ Tribute Concert livestream from the family’s Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, featuring new and established Jamaican artists like Mortimer, Bugle, Kumar Fyah, and Naomi Cowan. The livestream will begin Feb. 6 — Marley’s 80th birthday — at 3pm EST on the Tuff Gong YouTube page.

Cat's Cradle hosted the 25th Annual Bob Marley Bash on Saturday, with multiple performers, including Mickey Mills and Steel, Jamrock Reggae Band, Zion Project and DJ Ras J.

The family of Bob Marley, UMe, and Island Records have announced year-long celebrations for Bob Marley’s 80th birthday.

A special concert celebrating Birmingham's reggae history is to take place on what would have been Bob Marley's 80th birthday. The Reggae Origins concert will see Basil Gabbidon and musicians from Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) join forces on Thursday evening at the city's Town Hall.