Artists

Multi-Grammy winning talent, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is a highly acclaimed Jamaican artist/producer and the youngest son of the revered legend, Bob Marley. His musical style fuses reggae with elements of dancehall, hip-hop, R&B, and rock, crafting a fresh and modern sound that is uniquely his own.

In 1996, Damian unveiled his solo record titled "Mr. Marley," an album deeply infused with dancehall rhythms and skillfully produced by his brother, Stephen Marley.

Subsequently, in 2001, he released "Halfway Tree," a masterpiece released under a major record label. The album achieved resounding success, which maintained a prominent presence on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Charts for an impressive 158 weeks, culminating in his well-deserved inaugural Grammy award for Best Reggae Album in 2002.

Following this triumph, in 2005, Damian continued to soar with his Grammy-winning album "Welcome to Jamrock". This renowned record further solidified his reputation as a visionary artist, blending potent social commentary with infectious reggae beats, propelling Damian to the forefront of the global music scene, leaving an enduring legacy within the reggae genre.

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley continued to achieve remarkable success in his music career. He released the critically acclaimed album "Distant Relatives" in 2010, a collaborative project with rapper Nas that explored themes of African ancestry and consciousness. The album received widespread acclaim and further solidified Damian's position as an influential artist in the global music scene.

In 2018, Damian released the album "Stony Hill," which earned him his fourth Grammy award for Best Reggae Album. The album featured powerful and socially conscious tracks that highlighted his unwavering commitment to addressing important issues through his music.

Most recently, "Jr. Gong" released his rendition of the famed George Harrison track, 'My Sweet Lord.'. The track got the stamp-of-approval by George's beloved wife, Olivia, as well as the George Harrison Estate. Both, shared across their platforms.

Throughout the years, Damian has also embarked on numerous successful tours and performed at major music festivals worldwide, captivating audiences with his electrifying live performances.

Damian is actively involved in philanthropy and social initiatives, using his platform to advocate for positive change and support various charitable causes. His dedication to music and social impact has made him a respected figure in the industry, continuing to inspire and influence both fans and fellow musicians alike.

Renowned for his conscious lyrics, Damian harnesses the force of his music to confront political and societal quandaries, infusing each note and rhythm with captivating potency. Damian Marley has forged purposeful alliances with iconic figures across diverse genres, boasting transformative collaborations with the likes of Mick Jagger, Jay Z, Bruno Mars, Nas, and Skrillex, to cite just a fraction of his admired partners in rhyme.

His diverse collaborations showcase not only his versatility, yet his willingness to push musical boundaries. Damian's innate passion for reggae and his ability to infuse his music with contemporary influences have made him a respected figure in the music industry.

Beyond his musical accomplishments, Damian is involved in philanthropic endeavors. He co-founded the non-profit organization, Ghetto Youth Foundation, alongside brothers Stephen Marley and Julian Marley, which focuses on improving the lives of disadvantaged youth in Jamaica by providing educational opportunities and music.

With more than 7-million social media followers, and approximately 5.5-million monthly listeners on Spotify, Damian has earned his way to one of the most sought-after reggae icons of our time.

He is a chart-topping undeniable talent, who continues to captivate international audiences, while cementing his place as a prominent figure in the industry.

"Anything that sounds good is good," says Stephen Marley, paraphrasing Duke Ellington. Don't be surprised to hear the King of Reggae's son referencing Harlem's master of the jazz orchestra. Never one to limit his musical horizons, Stephen has always listened without prejudice, letting his inspiration set him free as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer—whether collaborating with his own illustrious musical family or with the likes of Lauryn Hill, Bobby Brown, Nas, or Erykah Badu.

Beginning his lifelong musical journey at the age of six, Stephen shared some historic stages with his legendary father and toured the world with his brother Ziggy and sisters Cedella and Sharon, The Melody Makers. The Tuff Gong instilled a strict work ethic and an awareness in all of his children that "music is way more than just music."

Over the past 45 years, Stephen has won no fewer than eight Grammy Awards—three with The Melody Makers, three times as a solo artist, and twice as a producer of his younger brother Damian Marley. Every one of his solo projects to date has topped the Billboard Reggae charts.

All of which is to say that Stephen Marley's place in music history is already secure. He does not need to push the envelope, defy expectations, or let the whole world into his world. And yet, that is just what he's decided to do. "We got some new music coming your way," he says while performing his latest songs live. "Something for your soul. I think we need that."

His first full-length project since 2016, Stephen's highly anticipated fifth solo album, OldSoul, released on September 15, 2023 comes as a complete revelation. With his well-earned reputation as a studio perfectionist, "Ragga"-as he's known to friends and family-is a consummate live performer with a knack for spontaneity. Old Soul leans into those strengths and opens up the artist as never before.

Released earlier this summer 2023, the retrospective music video for the album's title track, "Old Soul," features unseen family images and a montage of Jamaican musical heritage. A warm acoustic narrative, the song carries listeners through Stephen's evolution, intertwined with the Marley legacy. Originally penned by Jamaican artist Omi, Stephen adapted the lyrics to reflect his personal journey, suggesting a familiarity with past life experiences. Echoing his father's sentiments, Stephen's core message promotes mental freedom and unity. "Me did haffi change up the years and kinda place my life in it," Stephen says, "but really Omi give me the first inspiration."

While grounded from the road during the COVID lockdown, Stephen set up a new studio on a remote family farm in the Florida countryside, holding nightly jam sessions in a converted garage. With a stripped-down ensemble comprising binghi drums, bass, acoustic guitar, and flute, Stephen played whatever he felt like—ranging from original compositions and reggae rarities with deep personal meaning to classics recorded by Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles. "Irie vibration," Stephen says of the sounds made together on the farm. The lion's share of Old Soul was recorded during these "unplugged" jam sessions.

"April 1972, my mom and poppa brought me through...back then, I was the favorite, so they say. "Reflecting on his life as a youngster growing up as the second eldest son in the royal Marley family, Stephen marked his 51st year on earth by sharing glimpses of his past and releasing the title track of the album on his birthday (4/20/23) earlier this year! "I'm an old soul, living in the body of a 9-year-old / Guess I've been here before.

"Old Soul explores a musical palette that spans a variety of cultures and genres alike, with hand-selected special guests furthering the spiritual journey that encompasses the album. Stephen and his elder brother Ziggy collaborate on "There's A Reward," a heartfelt tribute to Joe Higgs, the man who mentored young Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer when they were all aspiring singers in Trenchtown. Meanwhile, Stephen's younger brother Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley features on "Cast The First Stone," a powerful, thought-provoking tune set to an ominous groove that sounds like something from a lost spaghetti Western soundtrack.

Stephen enlists his old friend Buju Banton on the ska-flavored "Thanks We Get(Do FiDem)," a Lee "Scratch" Perry composition made famous by Junior Byles that explores the idea that no good deed goes unpunished. And Kyle McDonald of Slightly Stoopid joins on a verse on "Standing In Love," a beautiful ballad that hearkens back to reggae's sweet rocksteady era.

Eric Clapton laces up tasty lead guitar riffs over a powerful acoustified version of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff," while the album gracefully closes with Grateful Dead legend, guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir, and singer/songwriter/soul surfer Jack Johnson, joining Stephen on the LP's final track, "Winding Roads." Recorded at Bob Weir's TRI Studios with his Wolf Bros band, including Don Was and Dead & Company members Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane, "Winding Roads" stands apart as the only song on Old Soul recorded with a full band.

"We definitely did want some different sounds," says Stephen. "We never want to come with the same ray ray ray. We try to make some of them something you can't really identify. Ah, just music." Among the more unexpected selections embedded on Old Soul are a disarmingly sweet cover of Sinatra's "These Foolish Things (Reminds Me Of You)," as well as Stephen's take on The Beatles' perpetually pleading "Don't Let Me Down."

In celebration of the new album, Stephen has embarked on an ambitious Old Soul Tour-Unplugged 2023through the early fall.

Stephen is no stranger to acoustic recordings, which tend to reveal the raw power of songwriting and musicianship without the benefit of studio wizardry. Just a year after Stephen released his 2008 solo debut Mind Control, he returned with an acoustic version, stripping each song down to its essence—both albums won Grammy Awards, back to back. Five years ago, Stephen embarked upon an acoustic tour of the U.S., then closed 2018 with the release of One Take Acoustic Jams, an EP recorded in the living room of his home studio, the Lion's Den—a precursor to farm jam sessions that form the core of Old Soul.

The free-wheeling song selection on Old Soul demonstrates the courage to defy expectations. "You haffi be true to yourself," he says. "I refuse to be put into any category. I am inspired by everything. So if me feel like me wan' play some jazz music, me ah go play some jazz music. Who dig it, dig it."

Even as the album showcases Ragga's versatility, the message within his music remains consistent. "We come to free the people's minds," says Marley. "Only way you can free your soul is to free your mind. My father say, 'No chains on my feet, but I'm not free.' And then he come say, 'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.' Anywhere the music calls us, we are going to be there to spread the message of love and unity."