The Wailers (reggae)

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Not to be confused with Wailers Band, backing band for Bob Marley (1974 – 1981).

The Wailers in the middle of the 1960s. From left to right: Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh.

The Wailers was a ska, rocksteady and reggae group formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1963, consisting of Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Bunny Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer), Bob Marley, Peter McIntosh (aka Peter Tosh), and Cherry Smith. They were called variously The Teenagers, The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers, and finally The Wailers. Braithwaite, Kelso, and Smith departed by 1966, leaving the trio of Livingston, Marley, and McIntosh. In the early 1970s, a rhythm section consisting of the Barrett brothers Aston "Family Man" Barrett and Carlton (Carlie) Barrett was added to the Wailers. The Wailers recorded such groundbreaking songs as, "Simmer Down", "Trenchtown Rock", "Nice Time", "Stir It Up", "Get Up, Stand Up", and many others.

The Wailers broke up 1974, with each of the three main members going on to pursue solo careers. Bob Marley went on with Bob Marley & The Wailers (with the I Threes as the backing vocalists). Peter Tosh had a moderately successful career while Bunny Wailer remained relatively unknown outside of Jamaica.

Often, usually for marketing purposes, Bob Marley, The Wailers, and Bob Marley & the Wailers are used indiscriminately to refer to recordings actually made by separate entities.