Post by kaya on May 5, 2009 21:51:04 GMT -5
Ziggy Marley, the eldest son of the late reggae musician Bob Marley, returns this week with his third solo album, "Family Time." A collection of children's tunes, the disc features guest spots from boldfaced names such as Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson and Jamie Lee Curtis. But Marley says it was his own children - all five - who really inspired him to make it. The 40-year-old singer, who earned a Grammy for best reggae album for his previous release, "Love Is My Religion," appears May 24 at the Memorial Day weekend Sonoma Jazz + Festival at the Field of Dreams in Sonoma. We spoke to Marley by phone from his Los Angeles home.
Q: What kind of music did your family listen to when you were a kid?
A: Obviously, I hear the singing of my family, including my grandaunt, who would watch us when my parents were on tour. She used to sing a lot of gospel songs. Donna Summer. Jackson Five. Glen Campbell. I used to sing "Rhinestone Cowboy" every day. We also grew up on the traditional Jamaican folk songs. I did one on this album, "Hold 'Em Joe." That was the first song I ever sang on a stage.
Q: Did you bring your kids into the studio while you were making it?
A: I brought all the toys my kids have to decorate the studio and then we invited my daughter and 50 of her friends on the first day to bless us with the kids' spirit. That's why on the first song you hear my wife say, "Judah, you want some pizza?" It was the best recording session ever.
Q: Your brothers - Damian, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani - are making hits. Does that make you feel competitive?
A: I'm caring. My brothers ... I'm not competitive with them. It's a continuation of my father's dream.
Q: What did it mean to sing "Three Little Birds" on the White House lawn on Easter?
A: I felt it was important to sing "Three Little Birds" and "Love Is My Religion" in that setting. In that political sense, I'm kind of my father's envoy, as well as representing myself. It felt like a good thing to be there.
Q: You worked so hard to establish your own identity, but your next release is going to be a children's album of Bob's songs. Why now?
A: I've grown that much now as a man, spiritually, musically. I feel comfortable that I can do some work with his blessings and out of respect and love for his legacy.
Q: When you did the voice for the jellyfish character in the 2004 animated film "Shark Tale," did you have to spend a lot of time biting people to prepare for the role?
A: No, I didn't bite anybody. That was one of those things I'm not sure I did such a good job, but I learn a lot from doing that. {sbox}
To hear Ziggy Marley's music, go to www.myspace.com/ziggymarley.
Source: www.sfgate.com
Q: What kind of music did your family listen to when you were a kid?
A: Obviously, I hear the singing of my family, including my grandaunt, who would watch us when my parents were on tour. She used to sing a lot of gospel songs. Donna Summer. Jackson Five. Glen Campbell. I used to sing "Rhinestone Cowboy" every day. We also grew up on the traditional Jamaican folk songs. I did one on this album, "Hold 'Em Joe." That was the first song I ever sang on a stage.
Q: Did you bring your kids into the studio while you were making it?
A: I brought all the toys my kids have to decorate the studio and then we invited my daughter and 50 of her friends on the first day to bless us with the kids' spirit. That's why on the first song you hear my wife say, "Judah, you want some pizza?" It was the best recording session ever.
Q: Your brothers - Damian, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani - are making hits. Does that make you feel competitive?
A: I'm caring. My brothers ... I'm not competitive with them. It's a continuation of my father's dream.
Q: What did it mean to sing "Three Little Birds" on the White House lawn on Easter?
A: I felt it was important to sing "Three Little Birds" and "Love Is My Religion" in that setting. In that political sense, I'm kind of my father's envoy, as well as representing myself. It felt like a good thing to be there.
Q: You worked so hard to establish your own identity, but your next release is going to be a children's album of Bob's songs. Why now?
A: I've grown that much now as a man, spiritually, musically. I feel comfortable that I can do some work with his blessings and out of respect and love for his legacy.
Q: When you did the voice for the jellyfish character in the 2004 animated film "Shark Tale," did you have to spend a lot of time biting people to prepare for the role?
A: No, I didn't bite anybody. That was one of those things I'm not sure I did such a good job, but I learn a lot from doing that. {sbox}
To hear Ziggy Marley's music, go to www.myspace.com/ziggymarley.
Source: www.sfgate.com