Ziggy Marley | |
---|---|
Born | David Nesta Marley 17 October 1968 |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1979–present |
Spouse | Orly Agai |
Children | 7, including Bambaata |
Parent(s) | Bob Marley (father) Rita Marley (mother) |
Relatives | Sharon Marley (half-sister) Cedella Marley (sister) Stephen Marley (brother) Rohan Marley (half-brother) Julian Marley (half-brother) Ky-Mani Marley (half-brother) Damian Marley (half-brother) Nico Marley (nephew) Cedella Booker (grandmother) Skip Marley (nephew) Jo Mersa Marley (nephew) YG Marley (nephew) Selah Marley (niece) Donisha Prendergast (niece) |
Musical career | |
Genres | Reggae |
Instruments |
|
Labels | |
Formerly of | Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers |
Website | ziggymarley |
David Nesta "Ziggy" Marley (born 17 October 1968) is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is the son of reggae icon Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He led the family band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers until 2002, with whom he released eight studio albums. After the disbandment, Ziggy launched a successful solo career, releasing eight solo studio albums on his own label, Tuff Gong Worldwide. Ziggy continues his father's practice of recording and self-releasing all of his music. Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner and a Daytime Emmy Award recipient.
David Nesta Marley was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 17, 1968. [1] He grew up in Trenchtown, a poor neighborhood of Kingston, and in Wilmington, Delaware, where he attended elementary school for a few years. [2] Ziggy grew up very active, playing soccer and running the mountains, a lifestyle passed on by his parents. [3] As the oldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy grew up surrounded by music. He has 5 half brothers, one brother, and two sisters. [4] He received guitar and drum lessons from his father and began sitting in on Wailers recording sessions by the age of ten. [5]
In the earliest known record of his musical career, Marley performed as part of a singing group called The Seven Do Bees, made up of him and his classmates, and wherein he was given the stage name "Freddie Dic". The name never stuck, however, and instead, David went on to become known as "Ziggy", a nickname often reported to have been given to him by his father Bob Marley, meaning "little spliff". However, Ziggy stated the following to Melody Maker magazine in 1988: "Me name David but me big Bowie fan. So at the time of the Ziggy Stardust album, me call meself Ziggy and now everyone do." [6]
During the late 1970s, Ziggy could also be seen alongside his brother Stephen at some of their father's larger concerts around Jamaica and abroad. In 1978, the duo appeared on stage at the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston, [7] and the following year at Reggae Sunsplash II in Montego Bay. [8]
In 1979, Ziggy and his siblings Sharon, Cedella and Stephen formed the Melody Makers (named after the British weekly pop/rock music newspaper, Melody Maker ) and made their recording debut with "Children Playing in the Streets". The track was written for them by their father, who had composed the song for them four years earlier. All royalties from the single were pledged to the United Nations, to aid its efforts during the International Year of the Child. [9]
The Melody Makers made their onstage debut as a group on 23 September 1979, performing on the same bill as their father for the first and only time at the "Roots Rock Reggae" two-day concert series in Kingston's National Arena. [10] Ziggy was 11 years old at the time. Notable other early moments in Ziggy's musical history include a performance with Stephen at their father's funeral in 1981, and later that year the Melody Makers released their second single, "What A Plot", under the family's Tuff Gong record label. [11] The Melody Makers recorded an unreleased album titled Children Playing in 1979.
Following Bob Marley's death in 1981, Ziggy began performing in his place alongside the Wailers at various shows around Jamaica, [12] and in 1984 the group went on tour in support of the year's Bob Marley Legend compilation album release. [13] The Melody Makers' first fully released album was Play the Game Right in 1985. [14] Their 1988 album Conscious Party was a major worldwide hit and received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. [15] In 1996, the band performed the theme song "Believe in Yourself" for the animated children's show Arthur . [16] Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers won three Grammy Awards and five nominations in total before disbanding in 2002. [17]
After the Melody Makers disbanded, Ziggy Marley launched a solo career. His debut solo album, Dragonfly , was released in April 2003. The album featured the single "True To Myself", which remains one of his biggest hits. The track "Rainbow in the Sky" features both Flea and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, while "Melancholy Mood" features only Flea. [18]
In July 2006, his second solo album, Love Is My Religion , was released on his independent record label Tuff Gong Worldwide. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, [19] making it Marley's 4th Grammy win. [15]
Marley performed a duet with Donna Summer for her 2008 album Crayons . [20] In May 2009, his third solo album Family Time , was released on Tuff Gong Worldwide. Family Time was presented as a children's album and features family and friends: Rita Marley, Cedella Marley, Judah Marley, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson, Toots Hibbert, Laurie Berkner, Elizabeth Mitchell, and more. This album won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children. [21] In June 2011, Marley released his fourth album Wild and Free . The title track, featuring Woody Harrelson, was available for free with the pre-order of Ziggy's first comic book, Marijuanaman. [22]
In 2013, Marley's song "I Love You Too" won him a Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Original Song – Children's and Animation category, after it was used in the Cbeebies animation 3rd & Bird . [23] Ziggy released the children's book, I Love You Too, based on the song and illustrated by Agnieszka Jatkowska. [24] In April 2014, Ziggy Marley released his fifth solo studio album, entitled Fly Rasta . [25] Fly Rasta won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 57th Grammy Awards. Marley later announced his sixth solo album Ziggy Marley to be released spring 2016. [26]
In May 2018, Marley released his most recent studio album, Rebellion Rises , through Tuff Gong Worldwide. [27] The album received rave reviews upon release. Cryptic Rock gave the album 5 out of 5 stars, stating "Politically and socially relevant, Rebellion Rises is a war of music, creating peace with a purpose.". [28] Island Stage called the album "a 10-track masterpiece that continues his father's tradition of promoting emancipation from mental slavery through education, social activism, and healthy living." [29] Reggaeville said the album "is not an angry record. It is not a bitter record. But, it is not a record of hope, either. The time of hoping for change is a notion Marley considers past due. This is a record of action, and for Ziggy Marley, the time for action is now." [30]
Ziggy Marley is the eldest son of Bob Marley and Rita Marley. His brothers are Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Ky-Mani Marley, Robert "Robbie" Marley, Rohan Marley, and Damian Marley. His sisters are Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley, Karen Marley, Stephanie Marley, and Serita Stewart.
He is married to Orly Agai, an Israeli of Iranian-Jewish descent, [31] [32] who is a former vice-president of William Morris Agency. They have four children: one daughter, Judah Victoria, and three sons, Gideon Robert Nesta, Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta, and Isaiah Sion Robert Nesta. He also has three children from previous relationships: a son, Bambaata (b. 1989), a daughter, Justice (b. 1991), and a daughter Zuri (b. 1995). [33]
The Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (U.R.G.E.) was founded in 2007 by Ziggy Marley. It is a non-profit, charity foundation working towards improving educational, health and community environments for children. [34]
U.R.G.E acts worldwide, but their main acting areas include Jamaica and Ethiopia, among other African countries. U.R.G.E.'s missions include action and awareness. [35]
Action:
Awareness:
Efforts
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Himself | |
1992 | Sesame Street | Himself | Episode: 23.70. Melody Makers also made an appearance. Performed "Small People" from their album Jahmekya |
1995 | Family Matters | Himself | Also performed "Power to Move Ya" from Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers's album Free Like We Want 2B |
1997 | New York Undercover | Himself | Episode: "Is it a Crime?" |
2003 | Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc | Reflux (voice) | Uncredited |
2004 | Charmed | Musical Guest | Episode: "The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell" |
2004 | Shark Tale | Ernie (voice) | Also performed a version of "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley |
2005 | Club Oscar | Ernie (voice) | |
2007 | My Gym Partner's a Monkey | Crockadle (voice) | Episode: "Mongoosed/Mellow Fellows" |
2009 | Sesame Street | Himself | Episode: "Wild Nature Survivor Guy" |
2010 | 3rd & Bird | Himself | Episode: "Jamaica" |
2010 | Wonder Pets! | The Cheshire Cat (voice) | Episode: "Adventures in Wonderland" |
2016 | Hawaii Five-0 | Bones | Episode: "Ka Pohaku Kihi Pa'a" |
2016 | Pup Star | Dog Gnarly (voice) | |
2017 | Pup Star: Better 2Gether | Dog Gnarly (voice) | |
2018 | Pup Star: World Tour | Dog Gnarly (voice) | |
2020 | Fraggle Rock: Rock On! | Himself | Episode: "Party Down in Fraggle Rock!" |
2021 | The Runaway Bunny (TV special) | Singer | |
2023 | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Lenny (voice) |
Year | Artist | Song | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Cheb Mami | Madanite | Producer; Performer |
2004 | Dora the Explorer | Three Little Birds (feat. Ziggy Marley) | Performer |
2007 | Angelique Kidjo | Sedjedo | Songwriter; Performer |
2008 | Donna Summer | Crayons (featuring Ziggy Marley) | Songwriter; Performer |
2011 | Beatriz Luengo | He Prometido (feat. Ziggy Marley) | Performer |
2011 | Stephen Marley | The Chapel | Performer |
2012 | Jack Johnson | Cry Cry Cry | Songwriter; Performer |
2013 | Cody Simpson | Love | Songwriter; Performer |
2013 | Andra Day | Coolin' in the Streets (Featuring Ziggy Marley) | Performer |
2014 | Carlos Santana | Iron Lion Zion (feat. Ziggy Marley) | Performer |
2014 | Dionne Warwick | Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head | Performer |
2016 | The Laurie Berkner Band | My My Marisol | Performer |
2016 | Florida Georgia Line | Life is a Honeymoon | Performer |
2017 | Morgan Heritage | One Family | Performer |
2018 | Kenny Chesney | Love for Love City (with Ziggy Marley) | Performer |
2019 | Renee & Friends | where do the children play? | Performer |
2019 | Looner | Good Enough | Producer; Performer |
2019 | Looner | All Women | Producer |
2020 | Carlos Vives | El Hilo | Songwriter; Performer |
2021 | Maluma | Tonika (feat. Ziggy Marley) | Songwriter; Performer |
2021 | Jake Shimabukuro | All You Need is Love | Performer |
2021 | Natiruts | América Vibra | Songwriter; Performer |
2021 | Ben Harper & Ziggy Marley | Spin it Faster | Performer |
2022 | LeAnn Rimes | The Only | Performer |
2022 | The Marley Brothers | Cornerstone 2022 (feat. Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Julian Marley & Ky-Mani Marley) | Performer |
Marley and his daughter Judah made an appearance in the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. [67]
Ziggy has won eight awards from fifteen nominations. [68]
Year | Awardee | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | Reggae Sunsplash '81, A Tribute To Bob Marley | Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Nominated |
1985 | Play the Game Right | Best Reggae Recording | Nominated |
1988 | Conscious Party | Best Reggae Recording | Won |
1989 | One Bright Day | Best Reggae Recording | Won |
1991 | Jahmekya | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
1993 | Joy and Blues | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
1995 | Free Like We Want 2 B | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
1997 | Fallen Is Babylon | Best Reggae Album | Won |
2006 | Love Is My Religion | Best Reggae Album | Won |
2009 | Family Time | Best Musical Album for Children | Won |
2011 | Wild and Free | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
2013 | Ziggy Marley in Concert | Best Reggae Album | Won |
2014 | Fly Rasta | Best Reggae Album | Won |
2016 | Ziggy Marley (album) | Best Reggae Album | Won |
2018 | Rebellion Rises | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
Year | Award | Category |
---|---|---|
2013 | Daytime Emmy Awards |
|
2014 | CLIO Awards |
|
IRAWMA (International Reggae And World Music Awards) |
| |
2017 | UCLA George and Ira Gershwin Award |
|
2021 | IRAWMA (International Reggae And World Music Awards) |
|
Medgar Evers College |
| |
Stephen Robert Nesta Marley is a Jamaican-American musician. The son of Bob Marley, Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, three times as a solo artist, twice as a producer of his younger paternal half-brother Damian Marley's Halfway Tree and Welcome to Jamrock albums, and a further three times as a member of his older brother Ziggy Marley's group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers.
Alfarita Constantia "Rita" Marley OJ OD is a Cuban-born Jamaican singer-songwriter and entrepreneur. She is the widow of reggae legend Bob Marley. Along with Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt, Rita was a member of the reggae vocal group the I Threes, the backing vocalists for Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Tuff Gong is the brand name associated with a number of businesses started by Bob Marley and the Marley family. 'Tuff Gong' comes from Marley's nickname, which was in turn an echo of that given to founder of the Rastafari movement, Leonard "The Gong" Howell.
Julian Ricardo Marley is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, songwriter, producer and humanitarian. He is the son of reggae music icon Bob Marley, and Lucy Pounder. In 2024, he received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for his collaboration album with Antaeus, Colors of Royal (2023).
Sidilla Editha "Cedella" Booker was a Jamaican singer and writer. She was the mother of reggae legend Bob Marley.
Earl "Chinna" Smith, a.k.a. Earl Flute and Melchezidek the High Priest, is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late 1960s. He is most well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and as guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers, among others, and has recorded with many reggae artists, appearing on more than 500 albums.
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were a Jamaican-American reggae family group whose line-up consisted of the children of musicians, Bob Marley and Rita Marley, which includes lead singer Ziggy Marley with Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley, and Stephen Marley. Formed in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers members began their musical endeavours in their pre-teens under the name the Melody Makers.
Jahmekya is a studio album by the reggae group Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, released in 1991.
Joy and Blues is a studio album by the reggae band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, released in 1993 on Virgin Records. The first single was "Brothers and Sisters", which was promoted to modern rock radio.
Free Like We Want 2 B is an album by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, released in 1995 by Elektra Records. It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Reggae Album" category.
Robert Nesta Marley was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive vocal and songwriting style. Marley increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide and made him a global figure in popular culture. He became known as a Rastafarian icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality. Marley is also considered a global symbol of Jamaican music and culture and identity and was controversial in his outspoken support for democratic social reforms. Marley also supported the legalisation of cannabis and advocated for Pan-Africanism.
Errol Brown is a Jamaican audio engineer and record producer.
Cedella Marley Minto is a Jamaican singer. She is the daughter of reggae singers Bob Marley and Rita Marley and the mother of Skip Marley. She was in the group Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers along with her siblings. With the group, she has won three Grammy awards.
Sharon Marley is a Jamaican singer, dancer, and curator. She is the biological daughter of Rita Marley and was adopted by Bob Marley when the two married. She was in the group Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers along with her younger half-siblings. With the group, she has won three Grammy awards. Her daughter Donisha Prendergast is a filmmaker and activist.
Play the Game Right is the debut album by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, released in 1985. The album was executive produced by Rita Marley.
Family Time is the third studio album by Jamaican musician Ziggy Marley, released in 2009 through the record label Tuff Gong. In 2010, the album earned Marley the Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children. A portion of the album's proceeds were donated to Chepstowe Basic School, Port Antonio, Jamaica. It is led by the single "Walk Tall" featuring Paul Simon.
This is a listing of official releases by Ziggy Marley, a Jamaican singer and musician from 2003–present. Marley started his musical career with some of his brothers and sisters as the Melody Makers in the 1980s; he performed and recorded albums with them from 1983–2001. The discography of his recordings with the Melody Makers is elsewhere.
The discography of Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, a Jamaican reggae family group, consists of ten studio albums, one live album, four compilation albums, twenty-three singles and four video albums.
Jesse David Royal is a Jamaican reggae musician.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Bob Marley:
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