THE MUSICAL POWERHOUSE OF THE MARLEY FAMILY
After reggae icon Robert ‘Nesta’ Marley’s premature passing in 1981, his children Ziggy, Stephen, Sharon and Cedella carried on the renowned Marley name through the ‘The Melody Makers”, releasing two albums which received worldwide recognition. Stephen, who mostly kept in the background in the early days has gradually stepped into the limelight and established himself as the mastermind behind many of the excellent solo projects and collaborations of the Marley brothers. While mostly staying in the background in early days, Stephen Marley has firmly established himself as the mastermind behind many of the excellent solo projects and collaborations of the Marley brothers. A perfectionist music producer with extreme attention to detail, Stephen’s outstanding talent has been recognized with three Grammys to the ‘The Melody Makers’, two Grammys for his solo albums (add name of albumsMind Control and Mind Control Acoustic) , and another two Grammys for the production of his brother Damian’s albums Half Way Tree and Welcome to Jamrock.
The children of musical superstar Bob Marley, who decided to make their career in the same business, never had an easy task proving themselves on island ofto discerning reggae lovers. Continuously compared to their famous father, the Marley children have often been accused of basking in the glory their father. However, the Marley brothers and sisters have faced the challenge of stepping out of Bob Marley’s shadow head on, silencing their critics by displaying an abundance of musical talent through a string of fantastic albums releases that would make any father proud. Excelling in their own rights, they continue to stay through true to their father’s reggae origins while showing creativity through modern music productions as well as in their many business ventures.
The mastermind behind much of this brilliant music is Stephen ‘Raggamuffin’ Marley, the youngest of Bob and Rita’s children. Born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1972, he started his musical career with ‘The Melody Makers”’ at the age of 7. Says Stephen, “I was born with my musical talent, but I think I am still just discovering it now at age 397.” The nickname Raggamuffin derives from being ‘a bit rough around the edges’ when he was younger, which was reflected in one of the songs he wrote, Rebel In Disguise. States the musician; “Today, I smile quite a lot. Life and positive things make me happy. What inspires me is God and The Most High, life, my children and the fight against evil.”
Having lost his father when he was just 916, Stephen describes every memory of his dad as special. He remembers that Bob, who always woke up early, called Stephen him over one morning while drinking his tea outside. Remembers Stephen; “He asked me ‘You pray? What you pray?’ and I tried to think fast because there was no way I would lie to him.” Thinking of school, he remembered devotion time at Vaz Preparatory School in Kingston and began to recite the Lord’s Prayer for his dad. Recalls Stephen smiling, “He said that every time I finish pray, I must say ‘Rastafari’ and added ‘But don’t mek nobody hear.’”
In 1980, Stephen took the lead vocals on The Melody Makers’ song Sugar Pie only 8 years old. He performed live at the 1982 Jamaica World Music Festival in Montego Bay and was featured on a 12" single titled Jah Is The Healing and again on Lord We A Come from The Melody Makers 1986 release Hey World.
While Ziggy and Stephen Marley first formed Ghetto Youths International in 1989, Stephen, Damian and Julian went on to incorporate the family owned record label (add name of label) in 2002. Some of the most successful albums have been produced on the name of label including Julian’s A Time & Place, Lion in the Morning and Awake, Ziggy’s Dragonfly and Grammy Award winning Love is my Religion along with Damian ‘Jr. Gong’s Mr. Marley, Halfway Tree, Educated Fools, Welcome to Jamrock and Distant Relatives in collaboration with rapper, actor and Grammy Award nominee Nas. To date, the Ghetto Youths International record label boasts an impressive catalogue of reggae and hip-hop influenced recordings of artists including Mr. Cheeks, Illestr8, Christopher Ellis, Johnathon Malcolm, Javaughn, Black Am I, Ziggy Marley’s son Daniel Bambaataa Robert Nesta, Stephen Marley’s son Jo Mersa and of course Stephen, Damian “Jr. Gong” and Julian Marley.
In 2003, Stephen and Damian put together an album called Educated Fools under the group name ‘Marley Boyz’. Collaborating with a number of other reggae artists, including their brother Ky-Mani, they recorded it on the Ghetto Youths International and Tuff Gong International labels. Completely stepping into the limelight, the musical genius produced much of his brother Damian’s three solo albums, most notably 2005's Welcome to Jamrock, where he performed on the tracks All Night, Pimpa's Paradise, For the Babies and Hey Girl.
While the voices of all the Marley brothers could be mistaken for their father’s at some point in time, Stephen’s voice bears an almost frightening resemblance to his dad’s on his debut album Mind Control. The amazingly versatile musical release was awarded a Grammy in 2008, while his second solo project Mind Control Acoustic won him the prestigious award again in 2010. Explains the executive producer, singer and guitarist, “A Grammy is a good thing, it is a recognition. But I have never made an album to get a trophy. I make music to affect people.”
Several collaborations have been released, including the gold selling release album Chant Down Babylon, featuring incredible, digital remixes of some of his father’s greatest hits with popular R&B performers like Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Guru, Chuck D, Steven Tyler, Ghetto Youths and Lauryn Hill. Says the musician, “While it is not real reggae, Dancehall music today is introduced as reggae. Every type of music has its platform and audience, and dancehall has become the commercial side of reggae.” Stephen strongly believes that music needs to have a purpose and that many stray from the integrity of reggae’s heritage; “Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, Toots & The Maytals and many others went through a struggle and we need to preserve these roots.” Being true to the original mission of reggae, Stephen keeps his sound clean and up to date, while he continuously pushes continuously pushing the boundaries of traditional reggae by creating a fusion of genres, mainly between hip-hop, reggae and R&B.
And exactly that is what Stephen has accomplished on his new album Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life, which was released in May 2011. Explains Stephen, “I hope it will be a revelation. There is only one song in which I stray a bit.” The album is likely to sweep up another Grammy Award. Jah Army, the first single off the new album is a timeless, dub-tinged Rastafarian anthem that the reggae star collaborated on with his brother, Damian “Jr. Gong”. Written and produced by Stephen, the Marley brothers recorded Jah Army at Tuff Gong studios in Kingston and the Lion’s Den in Miami. The single set off a media frenzy when a few versions, including one with vocals by the Marley brothers alongside Buju Banton, and a remix with a selection from a classic Biggie Smalls freestyle, surfaced online in December 2010. A follow-up track to Jah Army entitled, No Cigarette Smoking had given fans a taste of what they were to expect from the new album. The sultry cut features the smoky vocals of Guyanese-Canadian singer Melanie Fiona and made its debut at #1 on the Reggae iTunes charts. To be released later this year, Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life, is leaning more towards an eclectic feel.
The musical genious, who doesn’t even own an ipod says. “I literally live at the studio. As a producer, I listen to all types of music; jazz, blues, R&B, mento, calypso, it is hard to turn away from it.” He likes the stories, which are told in country music and describes himself pretty much as an open book, “I don’t think about specifically collaborating with anybody until the opportunity comes along. I didn’t know about Nigerian rapper Wale until I came across him and we collaborated on my new album.”
In summer of this year, Stephen Marley embarked on the Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life tour, across US, Canada and Europe. Fans can look forward to the second part of the tour, which is set for the same territories under the theme Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life. $1.00 of each ticket will be donated to the Ghetto Youths Foundation. The Foundation was founded by the Marley Brothers to help underprivileged youths who fight the struggle to survive. Explains Stephen, “The Foundation is a part of our life, we help with the struggle. The Foundation is a way to organize the efforts from Jamaica to Ethiopia.” www.ghettoyouths.com
Bob Marley’s siblings seem to enjoy working together. States Stephen, “We come from the same bloodline, it is in all of us. That man is you and you are that man. We approach life as a unit. The only time we compete, might be in a game of soccer.” They have succeeded in many businesses with the latest being ‘Marley’s Mellow Mood’, which has become one of the beverage industry’s breakout hits of this year. 100% natural and available in berry, citrus, black tea beach raspberry passion fruit and green tea with honey flavours, the drinks are said to calm your soul and ease your mind. A portion of all sales benefits 1Love.org, the Marley family non-profit initiative, which works to continue promoting the legacy of their father by supporting charities that empower youth, protect the planet and promote peace.
The children of musical superstar Bob Marley, who decided to make their career in the same business, never had an easy task proving themselves on island ofto discerning reggae lovers. Continuously compared to their famous father, the Marley children have often been accused of basking in the glory their father. However, the Marley brothers and sisters have faced the challenge of stepping out of Bob Marley’s shadow head on, silencing their critics by displaying an abundance of musical talent through a string of fantastic albums releases that would make any father proud. Excelling in their own rights, they continue to stay through true to their father’s reggae origins while showing creativity through modern music productions as well as in their many business ventures.
The mastermind behind much of this brilliant music is Stephen ‘Raggamuffin’ Marley, the youngest of Bob and Rita’s children. Born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1972, he started his musical career with ‘The Melody Makers”’ at the age of 7. Says Stephen, “I was born with my musical talent, but I think I am still just discovering it now at age 397.” The nickname Raggamuffin derives from being ‘a bit rough around the edges’ when he was younger, which was reflected in one of the songs he wrote, Rebel In Disguise. States the musician; “Today, I smile quite a lot. Life and positive things make me happy. What inspires me is God and The Most High, life, my children and the fight against evil.”
Having lost his father when he was just 916, Stephen describes every memory of his dad as special. He remembers that Bob, who always woke up early, called Stephen him over one morning while drinking his tea outside. Remembers Stephen; “He asked me ‘You pray? What you pray?’ and I tried to think fast because there was no way I would lie to him.” Thinking of school, he remembered devotion time at Vaz Preparatory School in Kingston and began to recite the Lord’s Prayer for his dad. Recalls Stephen smiling, “He said that every time I finish pray, I must say ‘Rastafari’ and added ‘But don’t mek nobody hear.’”
In 1980, Stephen took the lead vocals on The Melody Makers’ song Sugar Pie only 8 years old. He performed live at the 1982 Jamaica World Music Festival in Montego Bay and was featured on a 12" single titled Jah Is The Healing and again on Lord We A Come from The Melody Makers 1986 release Hey World.
While Ziggy and Stephen Marley first formed Ghetto Youths International in 1989, Stephen, Damian and Julian went on to incorporate the family owned record label (add name of label) in 2002. Some of the most successful albums have been produced on the name of label including Julian’s A Time & Place, Lion in the Morning and Awake, Ziggy’s Dragonfly and Grammy Award winning Love is my Religion along with Damian ‘Jr. Gong’s Mr. Marley, Halfway Tree, Educated Fools, Welcome to Jamrock and Distant Relatives in collaboration with rapper, actor and Grammy Award nominee Nas. To date, the Ghetto Youths International record label boasts an impressive catalogue of reggae and hip-hop influenced recordings of artists including Mr. Cheeks, Illestr8, Christopher Ellis, Johnathon Malcolm, Javaughn, Black Am I, Ziggy Marley’s son Daniel Bambaataa Robert Nesta, Stephen Marley’s son Jo Mersa and of course Stephen, Damian “Jr. Gong” and Julian Marley.
In 2003, Stephen and Damian put together an album called Educated Fools under the group name ‘Marley Boyz’. Collaborating with a number of other reggae artists, including their brother Ky-Mani, they recorded it on the Ghetto Youths International and Tuff Gong International labels. Completely stepping into the limelight, the musical genius produced much of his brother Damian’s three solo albums, most notably 2005's Welcome to Jamrock, where he performed on the tracks All Night, Pimpa's Paradise, For the Babies and Hey Girl.
While the voices of all the Marley brothers could be mistaken for their father’s at some point in time, Stephen’s voice bears an almost frightening resemblance to his dad’s on his debut album Mind Control. The amazingly versatile musical release was awarded a Grammy in 2008, while his second solo project Mind Control Acoustic won him the prestigious award again in 2010. Explains the executive producer, singer and guitarist, “A Grammy is a good thing, it is a recognition. But I have never made an album to get a trophy. I make music to affect people.”
Several collaborations have been released, including the gold selling release album Chant Down Babylon, featuring incredible, digital remixes of some of his father’s greatest hits with popular R&B performers like Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Guru, Chuck D, Steven Tyler, Ghetto Youths and Lauryn Hill. Says the musician, “While it is not real reggae, Dancehall music today is introduced as reggae. Every type of music has its platform and audience, and dancehall has become the commercial side of reggae.” Stephen strongly believes that music needs to have a purpose and that many stray from the integrity of reggae’s heritage; “Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, Toots & The Maytals and many others went through a struggle and we need to preserve these roots.” Being true to the original mission of reggae, Stephen keeps his sound clean and up to date, while he continuously pushes continuously pushing the boundaries of traditional reggae by creating a fusion of genres, mainly between hip-hop, reggae and R&B.
And exactly that is what Stephen has accomplished on his new album Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life, which was released in May 2011. Explains Stephen, “I hope it will be a revelation. There is only one song in which I stray a bit.” The album is likely to sweep up another Grammy Award. Jah Army, the first single off the new album is a timeless, dub-tinged Rastafarian anthem that the reggae star collaborated on with his brother, Damian “Jr. Gong”. Written and produced by Stephen, the Marley brothers recorded Jah Army at Tuff Gong studios in Kingston and the Lion’s Den in Miami. The single set off a media frenzy when a few versions, including one with vocals by the Marley brothers alongside Buju Banton, and a remix with a selection from a classic Biggie Smalls freestyle, surfaced online in December 2010. A follow-up track to Jah Army entitled, No Cigarette Smoking had given fans a taste of what they were to expect from the new album. The sultry cut features the smoky vocals of Guyanese-Canadian singer Melanie Fiona and made its debut at #1 on the Reggae iTunes charts. To be released later this year, Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life, is leaning more towards an eclectic feel.
The musical genious, who doesn’t even own an ipod says. “I literally live at the studio. As a producer, I listen to all types of music; jazz, blues, R&B, mento, calypso, it is hard to turn away from it.” He likes the stories, which are told in country music and describes himself pretty much as an open book, “I don’t think about specifically collaborating with anybody until the opportunity comes along. I didn’t know about Nigerian rapper Wale until I came across him and we collaborated on my new album.”
In summer of this year, Stephen Marley embarked on the Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life tour, across US, Canada and Europe. Fans can look forward to the second part of the tour, which is set for the same territories under the theme Revelation Part 2: The Fruit of Life. $1.00 of each ticket will be donated to the Ghetto Youths Foundation. The Foundation was founded by the Marley Brothers to help underprivileged youths who fight the struggle to survive. Explains Stephen, “The Foundation is a part of our life, we help with the struggle. The Foundation is a way to organize the efforts from Jamaica to Ethiopia.” www.ghettoyouths.com
Bob Marley’s siblings seem to enjoy working together. States Stephen, “We come from the same bloodline, it is in all of us. That man is you and you are that man. We approach life as a unit. The only time we compete, might be in a game of soccer.” They have succeeded in many businesses with the latest being ‘Marley’s Mellow Mood’, which has become one of the beverage industry’s breakout hits of this year. 100% natural and available in berry, citrus, black tea beach raspberry passion fruit and green tea with honey flavours, the drinks are said to calm your soul and ease your mind. A portion of all sales benefits 1Love.org, the Marley family non-profit initiative, which works to continue promoting the legacy of their father by supporting charities that empower youth, protect the planet and promote peace.
