3. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Smile Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica, December 5, 1976
Bob Marley’s performance at Smile Jamaica, held on Dec. 5, 1976, at the National Heroes Park in Kingston, was the site of arguably his greatest triumph, not just as an artist, but as a man, inspirational figure, leader and hero. Just two days after he was shot and nearly killed by gunmen in his house on Hope Road amidst growing political turbulence in Jamaica, a hobbled Marley showed up before the crowd of 80,000 on the premise that he would perform just a single song, but proceeded to perform for 90 minutes. The video here is a little rough around the edges, but the power of the performance still shines through. Press play to watch the first in a series of 13 clips from the show.