A number of relatives and friends of the late great Jamaican singer Bob Marley will be featured in an album aptly named ‘Family Time’ which his son, Ziggy Marley, will release on May 5.
According to Headline Entertainment in Jamaica, Ziggy’s third solo album released through the Tuff Gong label and produced by Ziggy and legendary producer Don Was, will feature Rita Marley (Ziggy’s mother), Cedella Marley (sister), Judah Marley (daughter), Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, Toots Hibberts, Elizabeth Mitchell, Laurie Berkner, Paula Fuga and two stories narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Ziggy was born in Trench Town, Jamaica and his early immersion in music came at a tender age when he sat in on recording sessions of his father. He later joined his siblings (Sharon, Cedella and Stephen) to front The Melody Makers. The siblings’ eight best-selling albums garnered three Grammy awards and generated chart-topping hits such as “Tomorrow People” and “Tumbling Down”.
‘Dragonfly’, Ziggy’s debut solo album, was released in 2003 and his sophomore solo album, ‘Love is My Religion’, was released in 2006 and won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 2007 ceremony.
“Growing up, music was an important part of my childhood,” Ziggy was quoted as saying in a release on the new album. “I see it being just as important in my children and all children’s growth and development. Music helps children to grow with open minds and open hearts and this is my message. This record represents my daily family life and is inspired by my three-year-old daughter Judah and baby Gideon. It was a joy to make and opened up new avenues in my creativity. Family Time is for all families and especially the world family,” the singer said of the new album.
According to the release, Ziggy has contributed to a variety of children’s programming including Nick Jr’s Dora the Explorer, the PBS children’s show Arthur and Shark Tale in which he delved into acting, playing the character of Bernie the Jamaican jellyfish as well as re-recording his father’s “Three Little Birds” with Sean Paul and his brother Stephen for the soundtrack. In addition to his skills as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ziggy also founded Unlimited Resources Enlightenment (URGE), a non-profit organisation that benefits a wide range of charitable children’s causes in Jamaica, and other developing nations. And more recently he has lent support to the Fashion Against AIDS, Little Kids Rock and Youth AIDS campaign.
Proceeds from ‘Family Time’ will benefit Chepstowe Basic School in Port Antonio, Jamaica.
The Tuff Gong label was founded in 1965 by Bob Marley with the vision of producing, distributing and promoting his music free from the constraints of corporate label politics.
