In an alleged politically motivated assassination the greatest reggae musician of our time, Bob Marley, was almost silenced forever.

On December 3, 1976 seven gunmen stormed the mansion of reggae superstar Bob Marley and injured the singer, his manager Don Taylor and wife Rita Marley. At around 8:30 p.m., Marley and manager Don Taylor were in the kitchen when two carloads of gunmen entered the property with guns blazing. One attacker fired eight shots at Marley — several hit Taylor, who stood between Marley and the gun, and one grazed Marley’s chest before entering his left arm. The gunmen also shot Marley’s wife, Rita, and another associate before leaving. Fortunately, everyone survived the shootings.

The attack was allegedly conducted to prevent Marley from appearing at a free concert in an effort to soothe political turmoil in Jamaica. Marley was released from the hospital and appeared at the concert on December 5. Marley would revisit the nght’s event in the song, “Ambush In The Night.”

Bob Marley . Reggae . Soul This Day in Soul