Bob Marley: the Legacy Lives On
Author:
Brian Rochlin February 6 marked what would have been the 55th birthday of reggae's greatest artist. Bob Marley was the Third World's first musical ambassador. His songs of life and love in Jamaica's ghettos, anthems of spiritual faith and political righteousness, have endured like few others.
But Marley left more than great music and an example of a life lived true to one's passions. He left seven children (by four different mothers) who are following in his musical footsteps and creating vital music of their own.
It's a good time for Marley music fans: The boxed set, Songs of Freedom, has been re-released, his kids currently have four albums in distribution and there's even a new compilation of Marley songs covered by contemporary musicians.
Perhaps the best known of the Marley children, Ziggy, Bob's oldest son, and his siblings Sharon, Cedella and Stephen Marley, make up the Melody Makers. All four were born to Marley's wife Rita and have worked together for more than 15 years, earning three Grammy Awards in the process.
On their latest album, Spirit of Music, Ziggy deftly tears at songs such as the uplifting "Beautiful Day" and the spiritual yet spare rocker, "Keep My Faith." It's Stephen, however, who truly shines on this album. His voice roars with the most passion and evokes the keenest memories of his father on covers like "All Day, All Night" and "High Tide, Low Tide."
Ky-Mani, Marley's son by Anita Belvanis, a Jamaican sports champion, downplays his family connections a bit by not carrying the name or appearing on his brothers' and sisters' albums. However, Ky-Mani certainly carries the Marley heritage in the strength and passion of his music. Ky-Mani's debut album, The Journey, is a singular effort that blends his raw, expressive, roots reggae voice with production that ranges from thin dancehall "riddims" to rich pop orchestrations while fully embracing all the fiery passion of his father.
The son of Marley and the former Miss World, Cindy Breakspeare, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is the youngest of the clan. His first album, Mr. Marley, shifts effortlessly from a rapping style to rootsy singing, jumping from love songs to political statements, making his father's message even more contemporary.
Embracing classic reggae as his own, Julian Marley has developed as both a competent musician and singer. Julian's debut, Lion in the Morning, is an album of roots sentiment, filled with songs of faith and strength.
In many ways, Stephen Marley, of the Melody Makers, has done the most to advance his father's legacy. In addition to producing both Damian and Julian's debuts, Stephen has teamed with them and another sibling, Rohan Marley, to run Ghetto Youths International, a record label designed to promote new talent. Stephen is also the force behind Chant Down Babylon, the latest album to preserve Bob's legacy.
Chant Down Babylon pairs contemporary artists such as Erykah Badu, Guru, Lauryn Hill, Chuck D, the Roots and others in posthumous duets with Bob Marley, performing over his original vocal tracks and contemporary hip-hop remixes. The remixes and most of the collaborations work surprisingly well, and the pulse of music - those rhythms that made Bob Marley's roots reggae feel like the pulsing of a heart - remain within the new productions. It is a testament to the strength of Marley and his children that nearly 20 years after his passing, the music can still grab the mind and heart and stir them up.
- Brian Rochlin
Posted online 02/01/00.
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