Reggae legend, Bob Marley, is set to have an English Heritage blue plaque installed at his former home in England, with the property, on Oakley Street - just off Chelsea’s King’s Road - on a list of places to receive the honour - with novelist Angela Carter, writer and traveller Gertrude Bell and war correspondent Martha Gellhorn among a cluster of names announced as figures to be celebrated in 2019 by the London heritage scheme.
Historian David Olusoga, a trustee of English Heritage and blue plaques panel member, said he was particularly excited by the Marley plaque.
“He was one of the first superstars to come from Jamaica,” Olusoga said. “He is one of the most famous faces in the world, one of the most recognisable faces in the world, and he blazed a trail for other artists from developing countries.”
Around 12 blue plaques are given out each year and English Heritage is conscious of needing to have more women and people of colour commemorated.
Chairman Sir Tim Laurence said: “We went through a long phase where unless you were white and male you had less chance of getting a blue plaque. We are trying to make the selection much more balanced and more diverse.”
It was while living there that Marley and the Wailers finished recording his ‘Exodus’ album – described as one of his best.
Bob died from cancer in 1981 – age 36.
