The Wailers (1963-1974 band)

Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley and the Wailers performing at Crystal Palace, London (1980)
Background information
Also known as	The Teenagers, The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers, The Wailers
Origin	Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae, ska, rocksteady, R&B
Years active	1963–1981
Labels	Studio One, Wail'n Soul'm, Tuff Gong, Beverley's, Upsetter, Island
Associated acts	Bob Marley, The Upsetters, Word, Sound and Power, The Wailers Band, The Original Wailers
Website	www.bobmarley.com
Past members	Bob Marley (deceased) Peter Tosh (deceased) Bunny Wailer Junior Braithwaite (deceased) Cherry Smith (deceased) Beverley Kelso Constantine Walker Aston Barrett Carlton Barrett (deceased) Earl Lindo Tyrone Downie Rita Marley Marcia Griffiths Judy Mowatt Al Anderson Alvin Patterson Earl "Chinna" Smith Donald Kinsey Junior Marvin

Bob Marley and the Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band led by Bob Marley which developed from the earlier ska vocal group, the Wailers, created by Marley with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. By late 1963 singers Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith had joined the Wailers. By the early 1970s, Marley and Bunny Wailer had learned to play some instruments and brothers Aston "Family Man" Barrett (bass) and Carlton Barrett (drums), had joined the band. After Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh left the band in 1974, Marley began touring with new band members. His new backing band included the Barrett brothers, Junior Marvin and Al Anderson on lead guitar, Tyrone Downie and Earl "Wya" Lindo on keyboards, and Alvin "Seeco" Patterson on percussion. The "I Threes", consisting of Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, and Marley's wife, Rita, provided backing vocals.

The Wailers were formed when self-taught musician Hubert Winston McIntosh (Peter Tosh) met the singers Neville Livingston (Bunny Wailer), and Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley) in 1963.

The lineup was known variously as the Teenagers, the Wailing Rudeboys, the Wailing Wailers and finally the Wailers. The original lineup featured Junior Braithwaite on vocals, Bob Marley on guitar, Peter Tosh on keyboard, Neville Livingston (a.k.a. Bunny Wailer) on drums, and Cherry Smith and Beverley Kelso on backing vocals. By 1966 Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith had left the band, which then consisted of the trio Livingston, Marley and Tosh.