The world’s largest children’s choir paid tribute to Bob Marley on what would have been the singer’s 80th birthday.
Eight thousand primary school pupils gathered at the Manchester Co op Arena to sing a medley of the reggae musician’s hits on Thursday.
They were joined remotely by children from across the globe for the worldwide singalong.
“I know my dada would be overjoyed that his words of freedom, love and unity are being sung by so many beautiful young voices 50 years after he wrote them,” Marley’s daughter Cedella Marley said.
Marley died of cancer at the age of 36 on 11 May 1981.
Ben Lewis, boss of children’s choir Young Voices, said more than 2000 schools across the world took part in the event, broadcasting 300,000 children to 50 countries.
“I think it’s a testament to Bob Marley’s music. That global appeal,” he said.
Liverpool poet Levi Tafari saw Bob Marley at King’s Hall in Belle Vue 1976. He said the performance was a “life-changing experience”.
“We got to the front, we were probably about ten deep from Bob Marley,” he said.
“We could see all his features, his expressions and everything.”
The Strictly Come Dancing singer, Tommy Blaze, from Liverpool, said Marley had a “massive influence” on him.
“I was lucky to grow up in the 60s and 70s in Toxteth, so Bob Marley was around and alive in those days,” he said.
“It was always joyous music with a serious message.
“Bob Marley’s music is here forever, it’s like a hymn to me. We all know it.”
