Post by kaya on Jun 13, 2008 15:11:28 GMT -5
ZIGGY MARLEY
THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSIC
Jamaica celebrates the Marley legacy
by Wendy Spence-Christie
David “Ziggy” Marley is perhaps best known as the multitalented first born son of the late great Honorable Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley. Yet, beyond Ziggy’s innate musical gift and the prominence of the Marley name, he is definitely a legend in the making. He is a Grammy award winning musician, a talented composer, writer and a dedicated husband and father of five children. CHM recently landed an exclusive interview with the easy going though self assured and deeply spiritual musician in Los Angeles.
It was no coincidence that we spoke to the man behind the award winning Love is My Religion album in the month of February. After all, this was a celebrated month for the Marley family, reggae music and the people of Jamaica. This year, Bob Marley would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on February 6th. Ziggy admittedly did not have any private plans for his dad’s Birthday. He is not into dates, he said, instead everyday is a special day for him.
Nonetheless, he has unforgettable memories of treasured moments spent with his dad.
“The last birthday I have with my father I remember I was the one who was serving the cake but that is the last birthday I remember of him.”
As far as his memory serves him, this birthday was celebrated when his father was somewhere in his mid 30s. This was one of the many days he spent as a young boy in the studio with his dad and his fellow band members. “We [my brothers and I] use to jam when the band rehearsing and daddy and the Wailers, the I-threes everybody de deh. Them rehearse, them finish rehearse, mi and mi brother would then go and bang on the instruments and that was fun.”
The deeply philosophical son of Bob insists that even though his father is not physically present, there is still a connection between them. “My experiences with my father go beyond physical at this stage in my life … our relationship continues so it don’t matter the physical anymore because the relationship didn’t stop at the physical level it continues,” he said. He so passionately describes his late father as his teacher and his brother and pledges to continue his legacy through the works of the almighty.
This legacy of the legendary Bob Marley was recently celebrated through tributes in Jamaica. A series of events depicting his life and celebrating his visions were held in homeland. Ziggy and the Marley family took part in the month long celebrations across the island. The extensive list of activities to mark the occasion coincided with this year’s declaration of February as Reggae Month. Among the birthday festivities, was the premiere of the documentary Africa Unite. This film chronicles the life and visions of Bob Marley and the family’s journey to Africa. The film premiered at the Carib Cinema in Kingston, Jamaica and was attended by an impressive list of local and international dignitaries. Hollywood actor/UNICEF Ambassador Danny Glover & African musician extraordinaire Angelique Kidjo were among the celebrities whose presence graced the red carpet style affair. Glover and Kidjo as well as the I-threes and the Marley family are featured in the film. The prestigious event was also open to members of the public who wanted to pay respect to Marley as well as part take in the country’s first premiere of such magnitude.
In addition to promoting the film, Ziggy is also industriously working on projects of his own. Fresh from his lengthy almost 2-year tour of the globe, Ziggy is taking some time out in California as he prepares for his next major projects. He also recently released the Love is my Religion Live DVD. The full length DVD based on the album of the same name, features performances from a live show at the Avalon Theatre, California as well as footage from his world tour. Though he is extremely proud of this DVD and his many other accomplishments, the upcoming project closest to Ziggy’s heart is targeted towards children.
“I haven’t started working on them yet but I am planning to do a children’s album this year … I’m developing an animated program for children also,” he said.
Ziggy is putting his heart into this project because being a father himself, he says he wants to educate children on the concepts of love, charity, poverty and reality. “My father seh tell the children the truth,” he added. He is determined to educate children on the realities of life not only because his father saw it fit but also because of his personal beliefs of its necessity. In fact he knows too well the importance of children learning about realities, since he received his lessons from his father’s music. Bob Marley’s Revival album, he said contained the most influential music in his life. “This album was the album that I use to listen to during high school days,” he said. “This is the album that teach me…it open the doors to my African heritage, my African culture black people struggle inna di world, black people survival and African struggle; it was the beginning of the knowledge.”
His mission is to inspire children the same way this album educated and inspired him as a youth. Although there is no definite date for his youth projects, he anticipates completion by the end of this summer.
So after that what’s next on Ziggy’s agenda? The hardworking Marley son has his eyes set on a long awaited Marley Brothers album. This promises to be a historical and exciting project with his brothers. It is scheduled to be unveiled “sooner than later, ”he ascertained.
In addition to extensive charity work with the Marley family, Ziggy has also made personal contributions to various causes. Among his philanthropic efforts was a recent project with the H&M fashion retail chain. Ziggy was among a select group of artiste asked to work on the chain’s AIDS Awareness campaign. For his contribution, Ziggy designed tank tops with the Love is my Religion tag line for the project. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts benefit Aids organizations across the globe.
The premiere of Africa Unite at the Carib Cinema in Kingston, Jamaica to mark Bob Marley’s birthday.
Source:www.caribbeanheritagemag.com/
THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSIC
Jamaica celebrates the Marley legacy
by Wendy Spence-Christie
David “Ziggy” Marley is perhaps best known as the multitalented first born son of the late great Honorable Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley. Yet, beyond Ziggy’s innate musical gift and the prominence of the Marley name, he is definitely a legend in the making. He is a Grammy award winning musician, a talented composer, writer and a dedicated husband and father of five children. CHM recently landed an exclusive interview with the easy going though self assured and deeply spiritual musician in Los Angeles.
It was no coincidence that we spoke to the man behind the award winning Love is My Religion album in the month of February. After all, this was a celebrated month for the Marley family, reggae music and the people of Jamaica. This year, Bob Marley would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on February 6th. Ziggy admittedly did not have any private plans for his dad’s Birthday. He is not into dates, he said, instead everyday is a special day for him.
Nonetheless, he has unforgettable memories of treasured moments spent with his dad.
“The last birthday I have with my father I remember I was the one who was serving the cake but that is the last birthday I remember of him.”
As far as his memory serves him, this birthday was celebrated when his father was somewhere in his mid 30s. This was one of the many days he spent as a young boy in the studio with his dad and his fellow band members. “We [my brothers and I] use to jam when the band rehearsing and daddy and the Wailers, the I-threes everybody de deh. Them rehearse, them finish rehearse, mi and mi brother would then go and bang on the instruments and that was fun.”
The deeply philosophical son of Bob insists that even though his father is not physically present, there is still a connection between them. “My experiences with my father go beyond physical at this stage in my life … our relationship continues so it don’t matter the physical anymore because the relationship didn’t stop at the physical level it continues,” he said. He so passionately describes his late father as his teacher and his brother and pledges to continue his legacy through the works of the almighty.
This legacy of the legendary Bob Marley was recently celebrated through tributes in Jamaica. A series of events depicting his life and celebrating his visions were held in homeland. Ziggy and the Marley family took part in the month long celebrations across the island. The extensive list of activities to mark the occasion coincided with this year’s declaration of February as Reggae Month. Among the birthday festivities, was the premiere of the documentary Africa Unite. This film chronicles the life and visions of Bob Marley and the family’s journey to Africa. The film premiered at the Carib Cinema in Kingston, Jamaica and was attended by an impressive list of local and international dignitaries. Hollywood actor/UNICEF Ambassador Danny Glover & African musician extraordinaire Angelique Kidjo were among the celebrities whose presence graced the red carpet style affair. Glover and Kidjo as well as the I-threes and the Marley family are featured in the film. The prestigious event was also open to members of the public who wanted to pay respect to Marley as well as part take in the country’s first premiere of such magnitude.
In addition to promoting the film, Ziggy is also industriously working on projects of his own. Fresh from his lengthy almost 2-year tour of the globe, Ziggy is taking some time out in California as he prepares for his next major projects. He also recently released the Love is my Religion Live DVD. The full length DVD based on the album of the same name, features performances from a live show at the Avalon Theatre, California as well as footage from his world tour. Though he is extremely proud of this DVD and his many other accomplishments, the upcoming project closest to Ziggy’s heart is targeted towards children.
“I haven’t started working on them yet but I am planning to do a children’s album this year … I’m developing an animated program for children also,” he said.
Ziggy is putting his heart into this project because being a father himself, he says he wants to educate children on the concepts of love, charity, poverty and reality. “My father seh tell the children the truth,” he added. He is determined to educate children on the realities of life not only because his father saw it fit but also because of his personal beliefs of its necessity. In fact he knows too well the importance of children learning about realities, since he received his lessons from his father’s music. Bob Marley’s Revival album, he said contained the most influential music in his life. “This album was the album that I use to listen to during high school days,” he said. “This is the album that teach me…it open the doors to my African heritage, my African culture black people struggle inna di world, black people survival and African struggle; it was the beginning of the knowledge.”
His mission is to inspire children the same way this album educated and inspired him as a youth. Although there is no definite date for his youth projects, he anticipates completion by the end of this summer.
So after that what’s next on Ziggy’s agenda? The hardworking Marley son has his eyes set on a long awaited Marley Brothers album. This promises to be a historical and exciting project with his brothers. It is scheduled to be unveiled “sooner than later, ”he ascertained.
In addition to extensive charity work with the Marley family, Ziggy has also made personal contributions to various causes. Among his philanthropic efforts was a recent project with the H&M fashion retail chain. Ziggy was among a select group of artiste asked to work on the chain’s AIDS Awareness campaign. For his contribution, Ziggy designed tank tops with the Love is my Religion tag line for the project. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts benefit Aids organizations across the globe.
The premiere of Africa Unite at the Carib Cinema in Kingston, Jamaica to mark Bob Marley’s birthday.
Source:www.caribbeanheritagemag.com/