Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, Winston Hubert "Peter" McIntosh, Neville O'Riley
"Bunny" Livingston and Franklin Delano Alexander "Junior" Braithwaite learned
breath control, harmony techniques, music theory and songwriting from Jamaican
singer / arranger / composer Joe Higgs. Higgs gave free music lessons at his
yard on Third Street in Trench Town, Jamaica. He was a devout rasta.
Bob, Peter, Bunny, Junior, Beverly Kelso and Cherry Green joined to start
"The Teenagers" vocal group in 1963. The group was renamed "The Wailing Rudeboys",
"The Wailing Wailers" and last "The Wailers".
The Wailers musical influences included Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and The
Impressions (led by Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler). Artists like The Drifters
(led by Ben E. King), The Moonglows, and The Tams. Songs like "Shop Around"
(by The Miracles) and "Do You Love Me" (by The Contours).
The Wailers recorded their first single "Simmer Down" (produced by Clement
Dodd) and signed a deal with Clement Dodd's Studio One in 1963.
Junior left The Wailers in 1964, August. He moved to the United States
to study medicine. Beverly and Cherry left The Wailers later on.
Bob left The Wailers temporary in 1966, February. He moved to the United
States to live with his mother and work in a factory.
Constantine Anthony "Vision" Walker joined The Wailers in 1966.
Bob rejoined The Wailers in 1966, October. He moved back to Jamaica.
The Wailers started the "Wail N' Soul M'" label in 1966.
Bunny left The Wailers temporary in 1967. He was arrested and sentenced
to 14 months in prison for marijuana possession.
The Wailers signed a non-exclusive deal with Danny Sims' JAD Records in
1967.
Vision left The Wailers in 1968.
Bunny rejoined The Wailers in 1968, September.
The Wailers worked with Leslie Kong.
197x
The Wailers worked with Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1970.
Bassist Aston Francis "Family Man" Barrett and drummer Carlton Lloyd "Carlie"
Barrett joined The Wailers in 1970.
The Wailers started the "Tuff Gong" label in 1971.
The Wailers signed a deal with Chris Blackwell's Island Records and recorded
the album "Catch A Fire" in 1972. "Catch A Fire" was the first international
Reggae album.
Earl Wilber Force "Wire" Lindo joined The Wailers in 1973.
The Wailers recorded the album "Burnin'" in 1973.
The Wailers toured the United Kingdom in 1973, April.
Bunny left The Wailers in 1973. He refused to tour outside of Jamaica.
The Wailers toured the United States in 1973. Joe Higgs replaced Bunny
in the tour.
Peter left The Wailers in 1973. Chris Blackwell refused to issue his first
solo album.
198x
Peter, Bunny, Junior and Vision recorded songs for The Wailers' "The Never
Ending Wailers" album in 1984.
Bunny, Junior and Vision performed the song "Together Again" at the Madison
Square Garden in 1986.