Bob Marley, 36 Years Old
The Jamaican singer/songwriter was a pioneer in the reggae genre. His band Bob Marley and the Wailers released their single, "One Love/People Get Ready" in 1965, and the song skyrocketed to the top 5 worldwide charts. Eventually, the band's sound shifted from a structured reggae sound to a more free-flowing jam style, reflecting Marley's conversion to Rastafarianism. He died from a cancerous Melanoma in 1981 and was posthumously honored with Jamaica's Order of Merit award.