I’ve always felt a weird bond with Bob Marley, and I don’t just mean because he was responsible for much of the background music that played in countless cars and garages in high school when the holy herb and I were best buds.

Bob Marley died on my birthday (seven years prior to my birth) and although I’ve never put together what that means exactly, it’s stuck with me over the years.

Bob, who might be the only musician that I would ever refer to by first name (because calling the man who once sang “I’m gonna smoke’a de ganja until I go blind. You know I smoke’a de ganja all a de time” as “Mr. Marley” just sounds silly), would’ve been 69 today and arguably no other musician in history has delivered such inspiration and overall good vibes with his such simple, stirring music. So now matter where you are or how cold it is, take a second and celebrate the Rasta Man himself.