Norval Sinclair Marley: How Did Bob Marley’s Father Die?

Norval Sinclair Marley was the father of Robert Nesta Marley popularly known as Bob Marley. Norval’s son Bob Marley was a renowned Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of reggae. The “No Woman, No Cry” hitmaker was loved by several people around the world for his distinctive vocal and songwriting style.

Norval Sinclair Marley: Bio Summary

Who Was Bob Marley’s Father, Norval Sinclair Marley?

Norval Sinclair Marley was born in the year 1885. He was from Crowborough, East Sussex in England, then a resident of Clarendon Parish. He was a White Jamaican. He was the son of Albert Thomas Marley and Ellen Marley (née Broomfield). His father Albert was an Englishman whose family originated from Little Worley, Essex, England, Civil Parish: South Weald.

Although Norval was a British Jamaican, he was rumored to have also been of distant Syrian Jewish heritage. He moved to England during World War I and became part of the British Army in 1916 at Liverpool. He enlisted in the non-combatant Labour Corps, serving in the United Kingdom. He had previously been employed as a ferro-concreter in Cuba.

Norval Sinclair Marley made claims that he was a captain in the Royal Marines. He was reportedly a plantation overseer at some point in his life. He met Afro-Jamaican Cedella Booker born Sidilla Editha Malcolm, his then wife-to-be. Norval was almost 60 years old when he married 18-year-old Cedella on 9 June 1944, in a ceremony that happened in Saint Ann, Jamaica.

They welcomed their son Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley) on the 6th of February 1945. According to reports, Norval Sinclair Marley was often away from home and although he provided financial support for his wife and child, he rarely saw them. Norval and his son Bob Marley didn’t get to spend much time together. Bob never really knew his father because his father passed away when he was still a child.

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After Norval’s death, his wife singer-songwriter and author Cedella married Edward Booker, a civil servant from the United States. Cedella and her husband Edward had two children Richard Booker and Anthony Booker. Cedella had a daughter Pearl Livingston with Taddeus/Thaddeus Livingston. Norval didn’t get to see his son Bob Marley become famous.

Norval didn’t witness his son Bob Marley become the Rastafarian icon he became. Bob infused his music with a sense of spirituality and was a global symbol of Jamaican music, culture, and identity. He was also widely known for his support for the legalization of marijuana and advocated for Pan-Africanism. He is known for the hits “One Love” and “No Woman, No Cry” among others.

How Did Bob Marley’s Father Die?

Norval Sinclair Marley died of a heart attack in the year 1955, at age 70, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica. His son Bob Marley was 10 years old when Norval died. Bob rarely said anything about his father. Unfortunately, Bob died on 11 May 1981, at age 36, in Miami, Florida, US. Before his death, in 1977, he was diagnosed with a type of malignant melanoma under his right great toe.

Norval Marley’s son Bob Marley underwent a biopsy and was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma. He decided to refuse to get his toe amputated as his doctor advised. Instead, the nail and nail bed were removed and a skin graft was taken from his thigh to cover the area. He collapsed while jogging in Central Park and was rushed to the hospital.

It was discovered that Bob Marley’s cancer had spread to his brain, lungs, and liver. Eventually, his health deteriorated as his cancer had spread throughout his body. He underwent treatment at the clinic of Josef Issels in Rottach-Egern, Bavaria, Germany, where he was taken through an alternative cancer treatment called Issels treatment.

ALSO, READ: Stephanie Marley: Everything You Need To Know About Bob Marley’s Daughter

Bob Marley left for his home in Jamaica after eight months of failing to effectively treat his advancing cancer. During his flight home, his vital functions got even worse. He landed in Miami, Florida, and was taken to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital for immediate medical attention. That was where Bob died due to the spread of melanoma to his lungs and brain.

Bob Marley’s last words to his son Ziggy were: “On your way up, take me up. On your way down, don’t let me down.” Bob’s mother Cedella Booker died on April 8, 2008, at age 81, in Miami, Florida, U.S. She died in her sleep from natural causes.