Excerpt: "This is the easiest album I ever made," he told The Sunday Gleaner last Friday. "It changed my whole mindset about recording and producing. It felt so good, so nice. To me, it's like biblical where a simple thing is so powerful. This is definitely one of my best works (even before winning the Grammy)."
Marley, 41, said from the outset he strived for an organic sound.
"We decided not to overproduce," he explained. "Everybody was in studio at one time playing the instruments. We tried to do it as organic as possible."
Excerpt: "Most of what went into Family Time is from experiences with my young ones," said Marley, who has five children. "I look at children differently now. It's been a learning process. I've learned how to be a better observer and listener."
Excerpt: "Kids are the solution to our problems in this world," Marley said, explaining his passion for working for children.
Excerpt: Ziggy's thoughts ...
on his children: "I recognise certain things in them that similar to my father. Them have a lot of them grandfather's spirit in them. Certain behaviour, certain expressions mek mi seh, 'Wait, wah a gwaan?'."
on desires: "There are two things I really want to do. Perform in Jamaica and in Africa some more. We (brothers) plan to shoot a film in South Africa during the World Cup."
on reggae: "Reggae music is a very special thing. It's spiritual when it's done right."
on Stephen winning second Grammy: "I understand it may come under criticism. (Stephen won a Grammy for an acoustic version of an album that won two years ago.) You have to understand that people outside of Jamaica see the music differently than in Jamaica."
On Smile Jamaica concert cancellation: "I'm very disappointed. I'd have to get the details from Stephen to find out what happened, but I believe if it wasn't going to be done right, it shouldn't be done any at all and that's probably what was happening."
on Ziggy Marley presents Dancehall Originators Vol 1: "It's my attempt to let the younger generation know about some of the pioneers. A lot of youths don't know enough about the music. Some people don't know how valuable our culture and music is. Is it mek Jamaica be Jamaica, so we need to know more about our past."
Excerpt: The 52nd annual staging of the Grammy Awards was yet another milestone for reggae family, the Marleys, as brothers Stephen and Ziggy strolled away with the coveted gramaphones in the Best Reggae Album and Best Musical Album for Children categories, respectively.
Excerpt: Ziggy, who is no stranger to the golden gramaphones, climbed over some five other nominees to grip the award with his Family Time album. In a brief comment to this newspaper, the singer said: "I feel very blessed to have travelled on this journey with my family and friends and feel honoured to have the Grammy Academy recognise Family Time."
Excerpt: In 2007, Ziggy's album Love Is My Religion won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
Excerpt: Three of his sons were nominated for prizes on Sunday, and two of them won.
Ziggy Marley, 41, his eldest son, picked up the fifth Grammy of his career, this time in the children's musical album category for his all-star project
Excerpt: Marley, who first made a splash in the 1980s with his sibling group the Melody Makers, corralled the likes of Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson and Toots Hibbert for "Family Time," which also includes two spoken-word pieces from Jamie Lee Curtis. Proceeds went to a school in Jamaica.
Excerpt: A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY: A Rosie O'Donnell CELEBRATION is a moving portrait of the remarkable diversity of families today that challenges stereotypes, highlighting same-sex parents, mixed-heritage families, single parents and stories of adoption. Children speak from the heart about parents, siblings, marriage and love in the exclusive documentary, debuting SUNDAY, JAN. 31 (7:00-7:40 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO.
Excerpt: Interspersed with these portraits are musical performances and animated interludes, including: reggae star Ziggy Marley, his mother Rita Marley and sister Cedella Marley performing "I Love You Too"; four-year-old Najorae and her father singing their original song "Love Is the Thing;" 11-year-old Martin and his seven Brothers and Sisters performing "Cario (My Love)," nine-year-old Joey singing "Raised on Love," a song he wrote with his mom and dad; and folk musician Elizabeth Mitchell performing "Blue Clouds" with husband Daniel Littleton and seven-year-old daughter Storey.
Excerpt: Ziggy Marley, Bob Marley's oldest son, has been making music pretty much all his life, but Family Time is his first album for kids and their grownups. Some well-known friends (Paul Simon, Toots Hibbert, Elizabeth Mitchell, and several family members) dropped by to help Ziggy, resulting in an album of loving, fun tunes backed by rootsy, poppy reggae.
The fact that this album begins with the lines
Excerpt: The Consensus: "Ziggy collaborated with some big names like Paul Simon and Jack Johnson" for this celebration of family, says Thomas. It's great for a read trip."
Excerpt: Field 16 — Children's
Category 76
Best Musical Album For Children
(For albums consisting of predominantly music or song vs. spoken word.)
American Heroes #3
Jonathan Sprout
[Sprout Recordings]
Banjo To Beatbox
Cathy & Marcy With Special Guest Christylez Bacon
[Community Music, Inc.]
Family Time
Ziggy Marley
[Tuff Gong Worldwide]
Great Day
Milkshake
[Milkshake Music]
Jumpin' & Jammin'
Greg & Steve
[Greg & Steve Productions]
Pete Seeger Tribute — Ageless Kids' Songs
Buck Howdy
[Prairie Dog Entertainment]
Excerpt: This huge year for Ziggy Marley saw the release of his own Family Time, as well as his father's B Is for Bob collection for kids. Children respond naturally to reggae, and Family Time brings friends (Paul Simon, Jamie Lee Curtis) and family (Rita Marley) together in a spirited celebration of reggae rhythm and pride. "Walk Tall," Ziggy's collaboration with Paul Simon, inspires kids to "walk tall, even when you fall." It's a simple message that works on several levels, yet the album never sacrifices musical quality for teachable moments.
Excerpt: Tonight, nine street musicians from across the globe will play at Club Nokia under the banner of Playing for Change, a name that winks at their busker background and declares their mission of making the world a better place through melody.
Excerpt: "The hope is to connect people that might ordinarily never come together," said Playing for Change creator Mark Johnson. "Regardless of divisions all over the world in religion, the politics, cultural view, economic status . . . music has proven that it can bring us together."
Excerpt: Elliott is one of the 37 musicians featured in the most persistent success of Playing for Change -- the music video for an especially evocative rendition of the Ben E. King hit "Stand by Me," which has been viewed more than 30 million times on YouTube and other Internet video hubs.
Elliott will be at Club Nokia performing along with Playing for Change compatriots Titi Tsira of South Africa, Mohammed Alidu of Ghana, Peter Bunetta of Los Angeles and Clarence Bekker of the Netherlands, in addition to special guests Ziggy Marley and Toots Hibbert.
Excerpt: Johnson said in shows on this tour he's seen an emotional reaction from audiences that is different from the ovations given established stars. He added: "Just like with 'Stand by Me,' you start with one voice, one player, and when you're done, if you did it right, the whole world is singing along."
Excerpt: BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
Movado
Sean Paul
Serani
Taurus Riley
Ziggy Marley
Excerpt: The son of the late reggae king Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley has filled his father's shoes in more ways than just musical success. Ziggy's humanitarian work, combined with his impressive musical career, have given the singer worldwide recognition.
Excerpt: thropic organizations focused on children, including the Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment, which provides under-privileged U.S. children with a door into the musical world.
Excerpt: Visit article link above to hear session.
Excerpt: A police advisory was issued just days before today's scheduled Ziggy Marley performance at the Waikiki Shell at 5 p.m. Marley is the son of legendary reggae rocker Bob Marley, and like his father, is an advocate of legalizing marijuana.
Excerpt: Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said the admonition is not aimed specifically at Marley fans. It was meant to be a general public heads up, along the lines of warnings about police roadblocks during the high school graduation period or reminders about the proper use of fireworks on New Year's Eve.
Excerpt: "It's unfortunate that a few people still don't get it," said Maj. Gregory Lefcourt, whose police district includes the Waikiki Shell. "Although the situation has improved, we're still seeing illegal activity at concerts."
Excerpt: Marley returns to Hawaii to promote his latest recording projects, the light and friendly "Family Time" and "B Is for Bob," the latter a reworking of some of his father's classic tunes for those young at heart. Besides two concerts here and on Maui this weekend, Marley will be making time to do other promotional visits in Honolulu, including appearances at the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center (see box) and the Hard Rock Cafe, both tomorrow. (The private Hard Rock gig comes after being gifted with a handmade Hawaiian steel guitar from the high school students of the Invention Factory project.)
Excerpt: Marley served as executive producer of "B Is for Bob." He said the project "was done specifically for children. We did musical reinterpretations of some of my father's more popular songs to make them more heartfelt, tweaking and fine-tuning them here and there. My children know a lot about their grandfather, and they got a lot of his spirit in them. For example, Gideon likes 'Jammin'," so we beefed up the drums and pushed the rhythm a bit more. A song like 'Three Little Birds' was stripped down to give it a more acoustic, more personal feel. The chorus of 'Small Axe' has children singing on it, and on 'Stir It Up' we edited some of the lyrics to give the song a real different vibe.
Excerpt: "My inspiration nowadays comes from anything from the kids," he said. "I want the best for children, so I keep the best thoughts and inspiration for my music. Children are the solution to our problems."
Excerpt: "I'm a student of life, so I still think I'm growing up to be a better father. Even though I don't see my family often enough, we stay in touch though the computer or talk on the phone. Right now what we do on the tour is important, because the people can benefit from my message that's wrapped in the music."
Excerpt: Another project on the horizon is the long-awaited Bob Marley documentary being put together by veteran director Jonathan Demme.
"Since the family is more involved in this project than others that have been mentioned in the past, people can expect a deeper, more in-depth movie," Marley said. "We plan to make this the ultimate one, where no other documentary before can compare. I'm not sure when it'll be coming to theaters, because we're still working on it and collecting rare footage of my father both on and off stage."
Excerpt: AL:You’re getting toward the end of your tour–are you sick of these interviews yet?
Z: “No, no. It’s irie.”
Excerpt: AL:I understand homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica.
Z:“I think so but I am not 100 percent sure because I don’t read the legal books. People there feel, you know, that it’s not part of our culture that we grew up with. So it’s kept quiet and a lot of people in Jamaica accept it but a lot of the people who accept it still don’t want it to become a norm. But everyone needs to be uplifted. Everywhere. Every age.”
Excerpt: AL:What is it about reggae that appeals to so many people?
Z:“Well, I’m a child inside and I always grew up on my imagination. I think reggae music is more than music. It is a message first. That carries more than music. It uplifts consciousness. It raises consciousness and it can make you dance. So it has that double whammy. Some music makes you dance but it don’t know what to say. Some music says something but it won’t make you dance. But reggae music is both. It’s that easy vibe music. It’s just good vibrations.”
Excerpt: Maui children and their parents are invited to attend a "Family Time Party" featuring a performance by reggae star Ziggy Marley at the Maui Prince Hotel Ballroom in Makena on Sunday, August 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. The event is a benefit for Pacific Whale Foundation's "No Child Left Indoors" Fund that helps disadvantaged island children participate in environmental field trips, regardless of their family's financial situation. (To purchase tickets call (808) 249-8811 ext. 1.)
Excerpt: "We are very honored that Ziggy Marley chose to create this special benefit event for Pacific Whale Foundation's No Child Left Indoors Fund," says Merrill Kaufman, Education Director at Pacific Whale Foundation. "This fund helps to ensure that all Maui schoolchildren are able to participate in whalewatch field trips and other outdoor environmental education events, regardless of their families' ability to pay the school field trip fees."
Excerpt: "It's all about making a difference for kids," she says. "Ziggy is wonderful to create this musical opportunity for Maui kids, and to have it benefit our island kids as well."
Excerpt: Ziggy has long been involved within the children's community. His works include: a rendition of Give A Little Lovewith the Melody Makers on the 1991 Disney compilation For Our Children, the theme-song for the PBS series Arthur, and most memorably, a role in the movie Shark Tale as the voice of the Rasta jellyfish, Ernie. He has founded the non-profit organization Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (U.R.G.E.), which serves a number of charitable children's causes in Jamaica and other developing countries. He is also an active supporter of Little Kids Rock, which provides children attending public schools with free musical instruments and lessons.
Excerpt: "Kids have always been important to me. "... Reggae music people, people who play it, people who listen to it, always would pass the music to their kids, you know?"
"It came to me that it's time that we did music especially directed to children, and we started to write the songs. I think — thinking much deeper into it — it's a way for me to connect with the audience, if we can connect to them in this early stage in their lives, the changes that we want to see in this world is more possible than if we just making music for people who are already kind of set in their ways."
"I think that was the reason why this was put into my lap to do this. Because the message was for the children, it's really the children who have the open-mindedness, it's the children that can make the changes we are talking about today happen."
"We can inspire them, you know?"
Excerpt: "I'm a human being," he said, when asked if he was a Rastafarian as was, famously, his father.
"The Rastafarian culture is a part of my makeup," said Ziggy, "But everyone is a human being first. We are all the same.
"I'm a rebel in my own life, I make up my own mind, even though I am from that culture. I am not defined by anybody but me. I have that freedom to develop my consciousness.
"What is my religion? Love is what it is."
Excerpt: On Saturday, August 15, Ziggy Marley brings family time to Hawaii! In support of the non-profit organization Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center (HCDC), he will be hosting a free children’s show at the center and will be performing songs from his newest children’s albums, “Family Time” and “B Is for Bob.” Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, no reservations will be taken for the event.
Excerpt: Growing up, music was a significant part of Ziggy’s childhood. And now, he hopes to share it with Hawaii’s children. “I know how important music can be in a child’s growth and development, and in a parent’s connection with their children,” he says. “Music helps children to grow with open minds and open hearts and this is my message.”
Excerpt: Ziggy has long been involved within the children’s community. His works include: a rendition of “Give A Little Love” with the Melody Makers on the 1991 Disney compilation “For Our Children,” the theme-song for the PBS series “Arthur,” and most memorably, a role in the movie Shark Tale as the voice of the Rasta jellyfish, Ernie. He has founded the non-profit organization Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (U.R.G.E.), which serves a number of charitable children’s causes in Jamaica and other developing countries. He is also an active supporter of Little Kids Rock, which provides children attending public schools with free musical instruments and lessons.
Excerpt: David 'Ziggy' Marley, Bob Marley's eldest son, never experienced any pressure from being a child star, although he led the Melody Makers in taking Marley music to Tomorrow People (a track from their Conscious Party Grammy-winning album). He told The Sunday Gleaner he first performed publicly with brother Stephen, sister, Cedella, and the Melody Makers at one of Jamaica's Independence celebrations, where they did Hol Him Joe.
Ziggy never considered himself a child star. "I don't think I did really think about it at all. With my family and my parents, it was never really a big deal to think about," Marley said. "We never see it that way deh. Probably now it is that way, but then, it was different,' Ziggy said about child stardom.
He says, "Junior Tucker was more a child star than we. Him used to sing the Earth, Wind and Fire song Reasons. Nadine Sutherland was around at the time. I never really see myself as a child star."
Excerpt: ZIGGY MARLEY was at a performance in Central Park, New York, when he heard about Michael Jackson's death. He says: "I was really sad. Me just feel like me as a person who do the arts, we have a connection with other artiste who do the arts. Me feel like our group of artistic soldiers lose one of our soldiers."
Excerpt: "I Love You Too," "Cry, Cry, Cry" and the title track are warm, clever songs that connect with children but never condescend.
"I would never want to talk or sing down to children," Marley says by phone from suburban Boston. "That just wouldn't be right."
Excerpt: "I've met a lot of great people during my career," Marley says. "Some of them were good enough to appear on the album. It just added to the experience. It's great to add something like this to children's music."
This is another musical step Marley has taken in kiddie terrain. He recorded the theme for the popular children's PBS series "Arthur." He and his Melody Makers sang "Small People" on the iconic "Sesame Street." Marley belted out "Three Little Birds" for the "Dora the Explorer" soundtrack.
"It's a labor of love," he says. "I loved working on those projects."
Excerpt: Marley's children often inspire his work, but he doesn't expect them to join the Marley musical troupe. "My children are very musical," he says. "They enjoy the music, but I don't think they're going to take it to the next level. It's all right if they don't become musicians; I'm already there. I make enough music for me and my kids."
Excerpt: Ziggy Marley, son of the late, legendary reggae star Bob Marley, was only 12 when his dad died in 1981. While he understood his father's legacy growing up, Bob Marley's eldest son says it has become clearer to him with each year just how much his father's music meant to the world.
Excerpt: "I was pretty naive about this whole thing because I live in my own kind of space," the 40-year-old Jamaican singer said by phone earlier this week. "As I've gotten older, I have come to truly understand how much his music meant to people and what a positive impact he made."
Excerpt: "Children have very open minds and we can influence kids with positive ideas that will take root," Ziggy said. For "Bob is for Bob," Marley gently remixed some of his father's best-loved songs to make them more kid-friendly.
"I was very aware of the fragility of doing something with his music. As a musician I believed I could create something different, but still beautiful, out of it," Ziggy said, adding that living up to his father's legacy is a non-issue for him.
"Bob is a part of me, so I let the Bob in me be free."
Excerpt: "Oh yeah, man, it’s nice, nice people,” Marley said from another tour stop in Salt Lake City, speaking of 311’s audience. “We’ve got some of our peeps, too; some of our fans come by. It’s good to have a mix.”
For Marley, who in the past has toured with such disparate artists as The Black Crowes, Blues Traveler, The Fugees, Busta Rhymes and Marilyn Manson, things couldn’t have worked out better with this tour, as it allows him to expand his audience as well.
“For me, anything is a good fit,” Marley said. “Where there’s people, there’s music, and I’ll be there. Whatever fits, I don’t really check it; if people are gonna be there, I can connect.”
Excerpt: “The album is for family, really; it’s not kiddie music, not Mickey Mouse kind of music, not the Barney type thing,” Marley said. “It goes a little deeper than that. The music is made for people, human beings. The lyrics I wrote with children in mind.”
His shows with 311, however, focus on more adult fare, drawing equally from such Melody Makers classics as “Tomorrow People,” his solo material and his father’s songs.
“This kind of tour is very easy for me to do,” Marley said. “One hour, it’s nothing; I don’t even break a sweat yet. It gives me the opportunity to change up the set. I have more songs than I need. I can’t always put a song in there, but I like doing that; it’s cool.”
Excerpt: BC: Coming off the Grammy-winning success of Love Is My Religion, I am curious to know what life events led you to record a children's album for your third solo project. What inspired the vision behind Family Time?
ZM: It seems like a transformation, when I think about it, from Love Is My Religion up to this record. But I was inspired by little things here and there in the world of children, especially music entertainment. I thought I had something to say that children might find uplifting and positive and inspiring. So I wanted to say to the children: "Family – that's what life is all about."
Excerpt: BC: What kind of impact do you hope that this album will have, since it is your first foray into children's music?
ZM: I have big, old faith in children because I want children to grow up in unity and peace and non-violence and the sun shining and love. So I hope I inspire children to speak of these things and have these things be in their lives. And then pass down to their children and their children's children until eventually, I won't have to make another children's record. This could be the only one ever and it's enough because the message is there. I hope it inspires generations and we are doing something that will inspire children to be better – better than we are as a whole in this human race in this time. The future generation can be better than what we have done here.
Excerpt: BC: My favorite track on the album is "My Helping Hands." Since you're involved in a lot of different philanthropic groups and a lot of different humanitarian efforts, many of which are related to HIV and AIDS, pick one of your most recent or cherished efforts and give me a little bit of insight on what drives you to keep on working with it.
ZM: Well, some proceeds from this record will help me to continue developing a school that I adopted, [Chepstowe Basic School in Port Antonio, Jamaica]. For me, I believe that the problem in Jamaica and other countries like Jamaica is lack of focus on children, lack of foresight. The problems will not be fixed today, but we must set some kind of foundation so we know that it will be fixed in the next generation. The problem is too big to be fixed, too big for promises that politicians give to people working for them. If we do not prepare the children, all of these problems will continue. That is why I get involved with children so much – to plant a seed for the future, to make it a brighter place. The only way the world is going to change is if we teach the children the right things and teach them the positive things because children have open minds, not like most adults where they already have what they believe and what they don't believe. This is why this record is significant to me. Children are still open to receive knowledge, to receive the true knowledge that's going to help to make the place better. The solution is in the children. We have to set them up and get them ready to make this happen. We can continue to dig at it, but it will only finally come to a reality if we make sure the children are ready by giving them a good education and giving them positive ideas to live by and teaching them truth.
Excerpt: BC: What do you consider to be your legacy?
ZM: Love is my legacy. Love is my religion. That is my legacy. That is the message.
Excerpt: "I'm doing a full tour playing my children's music at day shows and playing with 311 at night," Marley said. "It's going to be a brand new experience doing both kinds of shows."
Fusing the worlds of children's and adult music comes easy for Marley.
Excerpt: "I grew up around music and it was in my life at an early age," Marley said. "I picked up a guitar when I was 12. My family was pretty influential on my choice to be a musician.
"Once I got inspired on the spiritual side, the magic of being inspired to write songs kept me going. Love is my religion and I started writing songs about that. This particular concept has run through my songs from early on."
Excerpt: "I know how important music can be a in a child's growth and development," Marley said. "That's why I wanted to make my new record, Family Time. It's a collection of songs I wrote with children in mind.
"My 2-year-old really helped me get back to some of those childhood vibes and enjoyment. That really let me write the songs."
No worries -- Family Time is a reggae record for kids of all ages.
Excerpt: "Usually my songs mean more than one thing. Family Time is about my family, your family and the world's family."
Excerpt: B: The proceeds from the sale of the CD will go toward the Chepstowe Basic School in Jamaica — tell me about that project.
Z: "Music is part of us from the beginning."
The school is for the very young. I wanted to get into education for kids so I adopted a school and we started doing some development. Some of the money will help with more classrooms, more books, better pay for the teachers. I want it to be an example for the rest of Jamaica in terms of what we can do.
Excerpt: B: Maybe this is a silly question, but what do you think it is about music and children — why are children so drawn to music?
Z: I think that music, beats, melody, sound are a natural part of our DNA, our vibe. It’s just a part of the cycle of our lives, we’re born, we have eyes, we have music. It’s part of us from the beginning. We’re drawn to it because it’s a part of us.
Excerpt: B: what’s the most important piece of advice you would give to another parent?
Z: I don’t know … it can’t be one thing for every parent because every child is different. Patience is important, discipline is important, you have to learn balance. I guess that would be my general advice, keep it balanced— don’t lean one way or the other way too far.
Excerpt: "Family Time" is a work of original songs and some covers from Marley aimed at a children's audience. Guest stars on the album include Jack Johnson and Willie Nelson.
"The idea of doing a record for children runs deep in who we really would love to influence" Marley said. "The greatest step I've ever taken in music is singing for children."
Excerpt: "B is for Bob" features Ziggy reworking 12 of his father's songs for children. Marley said the idea was to have something of Bob Marley especially for children.
"We wanted to create something original - Bob Marley just for kids," Marley said. "We reworked some of the music. It's a bit different, so it's unique for children."
Excerpt: With hits of his own and his father's, Marley said he knows what songs the audience wants to hear but wants to find a good balance of songs during his set.
"I've gone to the extreme of wanting to give fans only something new. But it's human nature," Marley said. "People see the name Marley and want to hear something familiar, so I want to satisfy that need in them. I like the new stuff, but I am respectful of people and what they like to hear."
Excerpt: The movements on the Billboard Reggae Album get more interesting each week.
Ziggy Marley entered a couple weeks ago and made his debut at number one, pushing dub band Easy Stars All Stars to number 2 and Buju Banton to 3.
By the following week, however, Easy Stars was back at one and Ziggy at two. Currently, in an interesting turn of events, Easy Stars has slipped into the number three slot, perhaps for the first time since entering this chart.
Right there at the pinnacle is Ziggy, with Family Time and muscling his way into number two is brother Julian, who made his Billboard debut with his album Awake, his third studio album and first in six years.
Excerpt: Grammy-winning recording artist Ziggy Marley unleashed his new youthful sound on the Santa Barbara community this past Friday, playing semi-acoustic for over 100 parents and children at the Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club before taking the stage at the S.B. Bowl later that evening.
Excerpt: With a broken down set of acoustic guitars, miscellaneous percussion, and back-up vocals from his daughter, the Jamaican-born Marley showcased songs from his new album, Family Time, Marley’s third solo album and first full-length production geared specifically toward children and families.
Excerpt: A crowd of children and parents filled Club Nokia on Saturday morning to hear Ziggy Marley perform his first kids show, part of the GRAMMY Museum's "Musical Explorations" family series.
Excerpt: Last month, four-time GRAMMY winner Marley released his first children's album, "Family Time." "Growing up music was an important part of my childhood,” Marley said in a release. "I see it being just as important in my children and all children growth and development. Music helps children to grow with open minds and open hearts and this is my message."
Excerpt: For this Sunday’s second ticketed concert of the year, Ziggy Marley may have people wiggling their hips and pretending they can fly.
Excerpt: When reached in Los Angeles, the father of five said he didn’t set out to do a children’s album, but that’s the direction the songs wanted to go. His two youngest children were getting to the age where they could understand concepts, and he wanted to create something for them.
Excerpt: “My Helping Hands” has a childish tone, but Marley said he wrote it specifically for the recording, which he said allowed him to be a kid again. The colorful CD has finger paint-inspired hands all over its jacket, and the story is somewhat of a thesis statement for the entire project.
Excerpt: “I have to lift up my father,” Marley said. “I always have to put my father ahead of me.
“I am not afraid of him or his legend. I love him.”
Excerpt: According to Marley, a four-time Grammy winner and father of five, he's been involved in children's projects and charities for so long as a musician that putting out an album directed at that age group is sort of a natural progression. He often plays shows for kids and parents only, and that's part of what sparked the project.
Excerpt: "I think it was Bonnaroo in 2007, and they asked me to sing on the kids' stage during the day," he says. "And I said 'Of course.' So I got to see mothers and children dancing together, and it was a very good vibe. Seeing that type of joy when I looked out into the crowd is what made me really want to start something like this."
But Marley admits he actually was trying to write an adult follow-up to Love Is My Religion, not intending to make a children's album such a major project. But the only songs that seemed to come to him were children's songs. "So we said 'That must be it, then,'" Marley says. "That's where the inspiration was taking me, so I followed it and recorded Family Time instead."
Excerpt: "Well, Willie's a legend...he's got me beat, by very far. By very, very, very far," he says. "Guys like Willie and Toots and Paul Simon, I respect them just like they respected my father. They're our heroes, and me feel blessed to have them a part of the project."
Excerpt: Every song he performed in his set was upbeat…designed for dancing by a master at his craft. Ziggy always has a message to his music. His message is LOVE to all people…all over the world. From the war conscious “Shalom Salaam” to Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up”, his choice of songs brings both joy and awareness of the troubles of the world. Other songs he included were “Tomorrow People”, “Black Cat”, “Lively Up Yourself”. He closed the set with “Look Who’s Dancing”.
Excerpt: Like many fans of Ziggy Marley’s music, I waited for the release of Family Time with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty of what to expect from this latest effort. One never knows which direction Ziggy will take with each new musical project. Will it be Reggae, Folk, Rock, Spiritual, who knows?
Excerpt: By the way, it is evident there was a lot of thought put into the creation of the artwork. The title track went from good to great with the added vocals of his daughter Judah. My sense is that Ziggy was saying “This IS a children’s CD.” The next track, “I Love You Too”, came out of nowhere and simply blew me away. I had to rewind! This is a straight up Reggae song that has all the building blocks that go into the production of a classic Reggae tune. It has great drums, bass, organs, catchy lyrics, and smart back-up vocals. This should be the 2nd single. For us Reggae fans, it is great to know that Ziggy is still a Reggae artist.
Excerpt: The first-ever Grammy museum event took place at the new Club Nokia in the LA Live complex on June 6, 2009. This is the home of the new Grammy museum and adjacent to the Staples Center where the Lakers play and the actual Grammy Awards presentation is held. The kids-oriented daytime concert
Excerpt: Marley has been repeatedly drawn to family-friendly projects as a musician, humanitarian and even an actor. He is an active supporter of Little Kids Rock, which brings musical instruments and music lessons to children in public schools, and he founded U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a non-profit organization that benefits a wide range of charitable children's causes in Jamaica and other developing nations.
Marley hopes to share the messages of FAMILY TIME with children and families the world over. Ziggy performed during the annual Easter egg hunt at the White House to celebrate FAMILY TIME and hopes to do more children's books, and kid-oriented recordings and even an animated series. Ziggy has performed in the animated film "Shark's Tale" on "Sesame Street" and his song, "Believe In Yourself" is the theme for the children's show Arthur. His ambitious, multimedia approach reflects the varied ideas of FAMILY TIME. "Usually my songs mean more than one thing. Family Time is my family, your family, the world's family."
Excerpt: The obsession continues.....Our kids LOVE Ziggy Marley! Matt bought me the new Ziggy album, Family Time for Mother's Day. We went to see him play on Sat. and the opening band was Rhythm Child! (They play at Lily's school fundraiser each year). The kids were singing along and dancing up a storm. (Their favorite song is Cry, Cry, Cry. Ben sings: Ky Ky Ky, bee dzee zeeba bee) Ziggy also played Jammin', Lily's previous favorite song, but she informed us that it is no more. Cry Cry has replaced it. Sorry Bob. Ben passed out midway, but rallied for the last few songs. Ziggy's kids were on stage, singing and playing drums the whole time (they're 3&1). Just a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning!
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