Most remember Bob Marley as an uncompromising artist and an outspoken radical. He was also a national icon in Jamaica and the leader of a band whose concerts filled arenas around the world. Those closest to him knew the country boy who grew up in Kingston's toughest neighborhoods. For musicians who followed in his footsteps, he was a masterful lyricist able to poetically describe life's complications in vivid detail. He was also an expressive dancer, thoughtful theologian, and even a talented soccer player. Today, the mythology of Bob Marley has grown so large that it almost overshadows the person it is meant to honor. But for those who knew him best, Marley—the human being—was worthy of the recognition, and of living on as a symbol. He was that special. This is his story.