Who Was Norval Marley? Wiki, Age, Wife, Kids, Family, Death & BIO of Bob Marley’s Father
Norval Marley was a white Jamaican of English descent, who is best known as the father of Bob Marley, the legendary reggae musician and Rastafarian icon. Norval Marley had a remarkable and tragic life, marked by contradictions and complexities. He was a civil engineer, a soldier, a supervisor, and a musician, who traveled and worked in different countries.
He was also a husband, a father, and a grandfather, who had multiple affairs and children, some of whom he acknowledged and some of whom he denied. He was a man of privilege and wealth, who faced discrimination and prejudice because of his interracial marriage and mixed-race offspring.
He was a man who influenced and inspired his son, but also hurt and abandoned him. He was a man who died alone and forgotten, but whose legacy lives on through his son’s music and message. He was Norval Marley, the mysterious father of Bob Marley.
Parents, Birthday, Nationality, Military Service
Norval Sinclair Marley was born in 1885 (age: 70 years, when died) in Clarendon, Jamaica, to Albert Thomas Marley, an Englishman from Sussex, and Ellen Broomfield, a Jamaican woman of mixed African and European ancestry. Norval grew up in a privileged and wealthy family, as his father was a plantation owner and a magistrate. He attended Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Kingston, where he excelled in academics and sports. He also developed a passion for music and learned to play the guitar and piano
Norval Marley left Jamaica in 1901 and traveled to Cuba, where he worked as a civil engineer. He then moved to the United States, where he joined the US Army and fought in the Spanish-American War. He later returned to Cuba and became a supervisor for the United Fruit Company, a multinational corporation that dominated the banana trade in Latin America.
In 1916, Norval enlisted in the British Army and served in World War I. He was assigned to the 10th Liverpool Scottish Regiment, a unit composed of Scottish immigrants and descendants living in Liverpool. He underwent training at Park Hall Camp in Oswestry, Shropshire, where he reported sick due to a strain and claimed to suffer from incontinence of urine.
He was diagnosed as a “neurotic type of man” and underwent an operation, but no problem was found. He was then transferred to a support battalion, which eventually became the Labour Corps, and spent the rest of the war in the UK, performing menial tasks such as laundry and sanitation. He never saw frontline action and received a pension for his ill health caused by army service.
Norval Sinclair Marley Wiki/Bio
| Name | Norval Sinclair Marley |
|---|---|
| Birth | 1885 in Clarendon, Jamaica |
| Death | 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica |
| Ethnicity | White Jamaican of English and Syrian-Jewish descent |
| Nationality | British-Jamaican |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Occupation | Civil engineer, soldier, supervisor, musician |
| Spouse | Cedella Booker (m. 1944–1955) |
| Children | 10, including Bob Marley and Constance Marley |
| Grandchildren | 20, including Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley |
| Parents | Albert Thomas Marley and Ellen Broomfield |
| Links | Instagram- #norvalmarley Homepage- Newsunzip |
His Relationship with his Wife Cedella Booker and His Son
Norval Marley met Cedella Booker, a black Jamaican woman, in 1944, when he was 59 and she was 18. Cedella was the daughter of Omeriah Malcolm, a respected farmer and spiritual leader in Nine Mile, a rural village in Saint Ann Parish.
Norval and Cedella got married on June 9, 1944, in Kingston, despite the opposition of their families and the social stigma of interracial marriage. Norval was working as a supervisor for the British Crown Colony of Jamaica, while Cedella was a domestic worker.
Norval and Cedella had two children: Robert Nesta Marley, born on February 6, 1945, and Constance Marley, born in 1948. However, their marriage was not a happy one, as Norval was often absent and unfaithful. He also had a volatile and abusive relationship with his son, whom he rarely saw and sometimes beat.
He also neglected his financial and parental responsibilities, leaving Cedella to raise the children alone. Cedella eventually left Norval and moved to Trenchtown, a poor and violent slum in Kingston, where she struggled to make ends meet. Norval and Cedella separated in 1955, but never divorced.
Norval Marley had at least eight other children from previous and extramarital affairs, some of whom he acknowledged and supported, and some of whom he denied and abandoned. Among his other children were Anthony, Pearl, Richard, Gloria, Geraldine, Mavis, and Claudette.
Bob Marley: One Love Tops Valentine’s Day Box Office, Madame Web Trails Behind
The biopic of the reggae legend Bob Marley, Bob Marley: One Love, has won the hearts of moviegoers this Valentine’s Day weekend, earning an estimated $12 million on its opening day. The film, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, follows the singer’s life and career from his humble beginnings in Jamaica to his global fame and influence. The film has received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, praising Ben-Adir’s performance, the music, and the cinematography
On the other hand, the superhero thriller Madame Web, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, has failed to impress, spinning only $5 million on its debut. The film, directed by S.J. Clarkson and starring Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic who develops the power to see the future, has been panned by critics and fans for its lackluster plot, poor acting, and lack of connection to the Spider-Man universe
According to box office analysts, Bob Marley: One Love has benefited from its strong word-of-mouth, its appeal to both young and old audiences, and its timely release during Black History Month. The film is expected to have a solid run in the coming weeks, as it faces little competition from other musical biopics
Meanwhile, Madame Web has suffered from its negative buzz, its confusing marketing, and its release date clash with Bob Marley: One Love, which has drawn away its potential audience. The film is likely to drop quickly in the box office charts, as it faces stiff competition from other superhero films, such as Argylle and Kraven the Hunter
Bob Marley: One Love is now playing in theaters, while Madame Web is also available on demand7
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 8 inches
- Weight: 75 kg
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: Unknown
- Skin color: White
Death and Legacy
Norval Marley died on November 8, 1955, at the age of 70, from a heart attack. He was buried in a private cemetery in Kingston, where his grave remains unmarked and forgotten. He left behind a small estate, which was divided among his legal heirs, including Bob and Constance. However, Norval’s will was contested by some of his other children, who claimed that they were entitled to a share of his inheritance. The legal dispute lasted for years and was never resolved.
Marley’s influence on Bob Marley’s life and music was complex and contradictory. On one hand, Norval was a source of pain and resentment for Bob, who felt rejected and abandoned by his father. Bob also faced discrimination and bullying because of his mixed-race identity, which made him feel like an outsider in both the black and white communities.
On the other hand, Norval was also a source of inspiration and curiosity for Bob, who inherited his father’s musical talent and interest in world affairs. Bob also embraced his biracial heritage and used it as a bridge to connect with people of different cultures and backgrounds. Bob Marley’s music and message of peace, love, and unity reflected his vision of a world where people of all races and religions could live together in harmony.
Norval Marley remains a mysterious and controversial figure in the history of Jamaica and reggae music. He is often portrayed as a villain or a victim, depending on the perspective and agenda of the storyteller. Some view him as a cruel and selfish man who exploited and abandoned his wife and children, while others see him as a misunderstood and maligned man who suffered from mental and physical illness and social prejudice. Some even question his existence and identity, suggesting that he was a fictional or fabricated character, or that he was not Bob Marley’s biological father.
However, regardless of the truth or falsehood of these claims, Norval Marley was a real person who lived a remarkable and tragic life. He was a man of many contradictions and complexities, who left behind a legacy of both sorrow and joy. He was the father of Bob Marley, one of the greatest artists of all time, who changed the world with his music and spirit. And for that, he deserves to be remembered and respected.
