By Jin Moon
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| Bob Marley |
When you think of reggae music, the most iconic figure that comes to mind is. without a doubt. Bob Marley, a.k.a. Tuff Gong. Marley was the first musician from Jamaica to gain international fame. His lyrics echoed beyond the island to connect to fans all around the world, urging many to "get up, stand up, stand up for your rights." Though Marley was singing about unjust poverty and oppression in his own country and inspired by his Rastafari faith, his words and socially conscious spirit are as relevant today as they were back in the 60s and 70s.
The world's current social and political struggle and strife add new life and meaning to Marley's songs like "Get Up, Stand Up," "I Shot the Sheriff," "No Woman, No Cry," "One Love/People Get Ready" and "Redemption Song." His songs of revolution fuel his legacy today, and Marley's songs live on through the success of his progeny and the generations of artists inspired by his music.
Marley's sons have carried on his torch over the years. His oldest son David, a.k.a. Ziggy, led the Melody Makers, which was comprised of siblings Cedella, Stephen and Sharon. They first performed with their father in 1979 to record their first single, "Children Playing in the Streets." They continued on after Bob Marley's untimely death in 1981, and the group of siblings scored a Top 40 single, "Tomorrow People," in 1988. Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers earned the Best Reggae Recording Grammy for Conscious Party that year, One Bright Day in 1989 and Fallen Is Babylon in 1997. Ziggy Marley scored a Grammy for his second solo effort, Love Is My Religion, in 2006.
Damian, Bob Marley's youngest son nicknamed Junior Gong, also went on to capture three Grammys for his solo albums — Best Reggae Album for Halfway Tree in 2001 and Welcome To Jamrock in 2005 and Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2005 for the song, "Welcome To Jamrock." Damian said on BobMarley.com, "We're taking the baton from the elders who made rebel music—we're new leaders of the old school."
His brother Stephen, a.k.a. Raggamuffin, produced Damian's three solo albums, and added two more Grammys for Welcome To Jamrock and Halfway Tree to the three awards he received from the Melody Makers wins. After all his success with Damian's music, Stephen finally released his solo debut in March of 2007 called Mind Control.
Julian Marley also forged a career in music. In 1989 he released the album, Uprising, which was also the name of his new group. In 1996, he worked with his brother Stephen on his next critically acclaimed album, Lion in the Morning, continuing to write uplifting music about social change. "From a small age music has been there in my life. It's just natural. And it is with the inspiration of the Most High that I create my songs," Julian said on BobMarley.com. Most recently Julian released a third album produced by brothers Damian and Stephen in 2003 called A Time and Place, mixing reggae and jazz. Brothers Ziggy and Rohan also performed on the opening track, "Where She Lay."
Ky-Mani Marley has also been busy making music. Most recently he has been opening for the 2007 Van Halen reunion tour, but he also stars in a new reality TV series called Living the Life of Marley on BET. He also released his latest album, Radio, in September 2007, the follow-up to his albums The Journey in 1998 and Many More Roads in 2001, which was nominated for a Best Reggae Album Grammy side by side with his brother Damian's album Halfway Tree.
The sons of Bob Marley have also worked together outside of the studio, going on many tours together as Ghetto Youths International with Julian, Stephen and Damian. In 2004, Damian, Ziggy, Julian, Stephen and Ky-Mani went on the 27-city Bob Marley Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival tour. The strong bonds of family still hold the brothers together today as they support each other's careers. This love and the love of music drives the legacy of Bob Marley and his family.
"It all comes down to listening and loving music," said Julian on BobMarley.com. "If you love music, any kind of music, it just comes through you."
