Songs of Freedom: Celebrating Bob Marley on his 70th Birthday

Bob Marley by Ian Dickson

In an arc stretching from Kingston, Jamaica, to Birmingham, England, our photographers captured many special moments with the reggae master Bob Marley, born 70 years ago this Feb. 6th.

Their stories are pretty incredible too.

Take Lee Jaffe, for example. Today an acclaimed international artist, the New York native lived with Marley in Jamaica for three years. He was also a member of The Wailers.

Bob Marley by Lee Jaffe

He tells the story of creating one of the most famous lines in pop music ("...but I did not shoot the deputy") as he sat on a beach with Marley as the music legend was composing his epic tune, "I Shot The Sheriff."

Bob Marley by David Corio

Lee also went on to produce Peter Tosh's Legalize It album and to shoot that iconic album cover. To this day, he is a frequent traveler to Jamaica and house guest of Islands Records founder Chris Blackwell.

Bob Marley by Lee Jaffe

Jamaica also has cast a lasting spell on Peter Simon , the Martha Vineyard-based photographer who considers the island his second home. In the late '70s Peter was lucky enough to travel around within Bob Marley's inner circle while documenting reggae music for a book called Reggae Bloodlines.

Bob Marley by Allan Tannenbaum

UK photographer Ian Dickson experienced Marley's magic in a very different setting. He had just finished shooting a roll of black and white 35mm film as Marley and The Wailers performed at a nightclub in 1975 in Birmingham, England. Just as the photographer reloaded his camera and pointed his camera back to the stage, the singer elevated in the air and leaped to punctate his performance. In that split second, Ian Dickson's amazing shot expressed the uplift -- physical and emotional -- that Bob Marley's music still carries for his legions of fans.

Positive vibrations, indeed. Happy birthday, Bob Marley.

Bob Marley, Mick Jagger & Peter Tosh by Michael Putland