Bob Marley is arguably the most influential musician of all time, known and loved in every country in the world. As his oldest son, David “Ziggy” Marley could draw a crowd without putting forth much effort, but he’s stayed relentlessly busy nonetheless.
Since releasing his first album, Hey World!, at age 18, Ziggy has consistently played and recorded for 20 years. He’s now 38, two years older than his father lived to be. This Sunday, he visits the Music Farm near the end of a world tour that’s taken him to both Americas, Europe, and Israel.
Love is My Religion, his second solo album since disbanding the Melody Makers, (a group that also included brother Stephen and sisters Cedella and Sharon), is available exclusively at Target stores for $10. “Them get consumers a good, cheap price,” he told City Paper on the phone from Washington, D.C. “I don’t even buy CDs for that 15 dollars, $14.99, or whatever it is. We did that so people can afford the record.”
He’s serious about widely spreading his message that “love needs to be preached in churches and mosques and synagogues.”
The expectably socially-conscious Marley boy isn’t all talk. He donates a dollar from every concert ticket sale to U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a nonprofit he began “to help orphans in Jamaica with the medicine and education things, and just anything in general: toys, fundings.”
When Ziggy’s father passed away, his final words were to his son: “Money can’t buy life.” The lesson stuck, and for Ziggy, life exists in love and nature. “It’s the same sky everywhere, same stars, same sun, same moon. Everywhere we’re going that’s what my inspiration is – nature, trees. Anywhere nature is a good place for me.” –Stratton Lawrence
Ziggy Marley plays the Music Farm (32 Ann St., 853-3276) on Sun. Nov. 19 with support from Skye (the original lead singer of Morcheeba). Tickets are $23 ($21 adv.). Check www.ziggymarley.com and www.musicfarm.com for more.
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