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Bob Marley

Almost a quarter of a century after his untimely death, the legend of Bob Marley continues to grow and his mighty back catalogue of peerless songs retains its unparalleled ability to move and inspire people the world over. The story of how the rhythms of a tiny Caribbean island came to dominate the planet is one of the most extraordinary in the history of popular culture. And although Jamaica boasts many fine singers and musicians, it was the vision of one man and his band - Bob Marley and the Wailers - which spearheaded the global takeover of the music he liked to call "roots rock reggae". "You'd probably find it hard to go for 24 hours anywhere in the world without seeing his image or hearing one of his songs," reckons Chris Blackwell, the former Island Records boss who launched Marley's international career and produced many of his finest records. Born in rural Jamaica in 1945 but growing up in the tough ghetto environment of Kingston's Trenchtown, Marley has been called the Third World's first superstar. Yet the most striking characteristic of his music is its capacity to transcend race, gender, class and every other artificial barrier mankind choses to erect and - as Chris Blackwell puts it - to speak with a unique directness to "anyone, any time, anywhere." To those engaged in struggling against oppression, his rebel music has a particular resonance. But you don't have to belong to the down-pressed and dispossessed to embrace Marley's message of liberation, his anthems of hope and his dreams of freedom. Today, an audience not even born when he died of cancer in 1981 at the tragically young age of 36 , is constantly discovering his songs anew. "Timeless" is a much overused word that has become a cliché in popular music, an industry that by its very definition is built on the passing whims of fad and fashion. Yet there is nothing transient about the music of Bob Marley. Listen, for example, to Slogans, a song he recorded as a sketchy demo in 1979, but which is only now being released for the first time, and you might imagine the lyrics articulate the tragedy of New Orleans in 2005. Marley himself would probably have hated the iconification that has taken place since his death. He enjoyed his success and, heaven knows, he worked hard enough to achieve it. But while his music undeniably possesses a deeply spirituality quality, what marked him out was his humanity. His ability to uplift and inspire was not built upon artifice or pomposity. It was born of his own blood, sweat and tears. As Chris Blackwell puts it, Bob Marley was "real". And it is that, above all else, that has made him a legend.

Twitter Updates

Rohan interview about his company, Marley Coffee - http://www.youtube.com/watc...
03:11 PM December 19 2009

New Video From Ziggy!

Blog posts

Julian, Stephen and Damian in Miami Nov 9
Photos: Julian Live in Madison Oct 31
The Rita Marley Foundation Newsletter Sep 15

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Bulletins

Nov 07, 10:56 AM

New Video From Ziggy!

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Oct 27, 10:19 AM

The Playing for Change Band with Toots of Toots & the Maytals & friends (including Ziggy!)

The Playing for Change Band will be playing with Toots Hibbert of Toots & the Maytals and Friends (including Ziggy!).
Club Nokia, Los Angeles
Friday, November 13, 2009
Please click here to check out their cover of Bob Marley's "One Love" and learn more about Playing for Change.
The Playing for Change Foundation plans to use a portion of proceeds from this benefit towards the development of a learning center in Jamaica, in conjunction with the Toots Foundation.
To purchase tickets for the event, go to Ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000 or 866-448-7849.
Oct 22, 02:41 PM

Julian on Tour (with Stephen!)

Julian is currently on tour with Stephen!
Here's an excerpt from a recent review in Spinner:
"Julian Marley's long dreadlocks shook back and forth as he moved to the beat and said, "Music is the only way we can truly communicate. Speaking for myself ... music is the spirit that drives us." He smiled knowingly and reached his right hand out as if to touch the audience at Brooklyn Bowl's CMJ show on Wednesday. Then, the Uprising Band kicked into heavy bass and reggae beat mode and 'Boom Draw' from the new album 'Awake' drew everyone into the wonderful world of Marley.
It's difficult not to notice how much Julian Marley looks, sounds and moves like his father, Bob Marley. The same thin frame, the hair, the ecstatic dancing with outstretched arms and dreadlocks swinging, the enigmatic smile and most of all a real love of music and what it can do to bring people together closely resemble his dad. But, Julian is not Bob, and that's a good thing. While Julian Marley does cover a number of his father's songs, including 'Rastaman Vibration,' 'Stir It Up' and a show-stopping version of 'Exodus,' it is his own songs that really stand out. He has a real voice that breaks through by sheer force of talent, attitude and passion" (click here to read more >>)
For a full listing of shows, please visit Julian's site at http://www.myspace.com/royalmarley
Oct 05, 12:09 PM

Ziggy Says Make a Video
Aug 25, 03:53 PM

New EP from Ziggy: Live from SoHo
Aug 14, 11:48 AM

Free Tuff Gong Worldwide Sampler

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