Bob Marley's Legacy Lives On at CES

Marley and Rasta are intimately entwined. Bob's childhood home in Jamaica was a shanty town in Kingston, the child of an island girl and a British quartermaster. His music became an amalgam of styles influenced by Jamaica, New Orleans, Africa – his vision of One World, One Love was inspired by his belief in Rastafari.

Rastafari, considered by many to be a movement instead of a religion, grew out of Jamaica dating back to when Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. Under his new name, Haile Selassie was seen as the catalyst to deliver the black race from social, political and economic oppression.

Rastas reject Western society, see Africa as the birthplace of all mankind, wear their hair in dreadlocks, are vegetarians, and use marijuana as a holy sacrament, all under the guidance of their interpretation of the Bible. Rasta, made popular by Marley's association with it, was a controversial movement.

Bob Marley lived in turbulent times, discord permeated the islands, Africa and the Civil Rights Era of the 60's in the United States. Marley's music brought many cultures together, and made Reggae all the rage.

He received Jamaica's Order of Merit for outstanding contribution to that country's culture. Marley's musical efforts to bring people together resulted in his being invited to the United Nations in New York to receive the organization's Medal of Peace in 1978.

The next year, he released his ninth album, "Survival" which included "So Much Trouble in the World" and "Zimbabwe" (with powerful words like Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny; No more internal power struggle; We come together to overcome the little trouble).

The song became an anthem for the soon-to-be liberated Rhodesia. Marley was officially invited to perform at the country's Independence Ceremony in April, 1980.

The following year, at 36 years of age, he died of cancer in a Miami hospital en route to his home in Jamaica. His legacy lives on in his children and their company. Two of those children are available to show off the products that bear their father's name at the CES booth #7917. Marley's image, the Rasta motif, his belief in One World, One Love live at the House of Marley, maintained by his family.

The company has created another product unrelated to music – a line of beverages that are advertised as a relaxation drink, Marley Mellow Mood. The company explains:

With all the chaos around the world we feel that it is important for everyone to be able to relax … a special blend of ingredients that will calm your soul and ease your mind.

So sit back with a Marley Mellow Mood, put on a pair of Marley headphones, turn on a Marley song, and experience the magic.