Norval Marley was significantly older than Cedella Booker and had a largely absent role in Bob Marley's upbringing.

Norval Marley was around 50 years old when he fathered Bob Marley, while Cedella Booker was just 18. This considerable age gap, combined with their differing social statuses, meant their relationship was unconventional and brief. Norval provided some financial support in Bob's early years, but he was rarely present. Bob spent much of his childhood with his mother in rural Nine Mile, and later in Trenchtown, Kingston. His father's visits were infrequent, and he largely disappeared from Bob's life before his son reached adolescence, leaving a profound void and contributing to Bob's later exploration of identity.