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Tribute to Bob Marley Day has been a part of San Diego for the last 25 years. Founder and executive director of the WorldBeat Center , Makeda Dread Cheatom, created this day of celebration because of a friendship she had with the late great Robert Nesta Marley. While Bob was with us Makeda worked cooperatively with Bob Marley on various projects. After Bob's passing Makeda made sure this legend would be celebrated in San Diego. From its meager start at a small outdoor park in 1980 to the California Theater downtown in the late eighties to the 15,000 seat San Diego Sports Arena in the early nineties to now 2004 with the best reggae has to offer. Grammy winners, nominees, reggae icons, and international hit makers have all graced the Tribute to Bob Marley Day stages. Gregory Issacs, Black Uhuru, Peter Tosh, Alpha Blondy, Burning Spear, Third World , Shabba Ranks, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Luciano, and many other reggae greats have all been part of the annual festival. Now a Black History Month Event and a benefit for the WorldBeat Center Tribute to Bob Marley Day San Diego brings San Diego diverse community together for a unique cultural event. Tribute to Bob Marley Day has spread across the state, the country, and internationally. Celebrating the life and sounds of reggae shaman Robert Nesta Marley, the 26th annual Tribute to Bob Marley Day Celebration brings together some of the hottest reggae acts in the business. Marley became an international icon in the early '70s after he took the traditional Jamaican folk sounds that he grew up with, mainstreamed them a bit and brought them in glorious style to the masses. Even today, songs like "Get Up Stand Up'," "Exodus" and "Waiting in Vain" are radio staples pretty much everywhere.