01 July 2023 , 07:00
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Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter and was considered one of the pioneers of reggae.
With hit tracks like Could You Be Loved, Is This Love and One Love, he quickly rose to fame and became known as a Rastafari icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality.
Unfortunately, there were downsides to his world-renowned success, including an assassination attempt in his home in 1976, where his wife, Rita was shot in the head and he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and arm.
The attempt was said to be politically motivated.
A year later, Bob was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma under his right big toe. He rejected doctors' advice to have his toe amputated, which would have hindered his performing career.
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Bob died of cancer in 1981 (Hulton Archive)He cited his religious beliefs as the reason for his decision and instead had the nail and nail bed removed and he was able to continue with his 1980 world tour.
Sadly in 1981, he passed away after the cancer spread to his brain, lungs, and liver. His last words to his son, Ziggy, were: "On your way up, take me up. On your way down, don't let me down."
Despite Bob's cause of death being made public, some fans have been led to believe in conspiracy theories surrounding his death.
Rapper T.I. took to Instagram back in 2018 to share a news article about claims ex-CIA agent Bill Oxley made on his deathbed.
Bob Marley's home in Jamaica (AFP/Getty Images)In the now-debunked article, Oxley is quoted as saying he acted as a New York Times photographer to get close to Marley at his Blue Mountains retreat in Jamaica.
"I gave him a pair of Converse All Stars. Size 10. When he tried on the right shoe, he screamed out," he is quoted as saying.
"That was it. His life was over right there and then. The nail in the shoe was tainted with cancer viruses and bacteria."
Rapper T.I claimed Bob was killed (Hulton Archive)
The CIA confession has since been debunked (Getty Images)On his deathbed, 79-year-old Oxley is also said to have claimed Marley was one of 17 people he killed for the CIA between 1974 and 1985.
The story - ran on a website connected to conspiracy theorist David Icke - has been widely ridiculed. Debunking site Snopes said it could find no record of a Bill or William Oxley having any association with the CIA.
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