A Rastafarian, his songs, many of which were topical and political, popularized reggae worldwide in the 1970s. They include Get Up, Stand Up 1973 and No Woman No Cry 1974; his albums include Natty Dread 1975 and Exodus 1977. The core of Marley's band the Wailers was formed around 1960, and they began making local hits - Simmer Down 1963, Rude Boy 1965, Stir It Up 1967, Trench Town Rock 1971 - combining rock steady (a form of ska), soul, and rock influences. Catch a Fire 1972 was a seminal reggae album, but the international breakthrough came with Burnin' 1973, containing the song I Shot the Sheriff. Punky Reggae Party 1977 was a nod to their British punk fans. Marley toured Africa 1978 and began to incorporate African elements in his music. His last album was Uprising 1980.
