Ziggy Marley, the son of the legendary Bob Marley, is a highly acclaimed reggae singer known for his powerful songs on socio-political issues and peace. With four Grammy Awards under his belt, Ziggy has not only made a name for himself in the music industry but also as a philanthropist dedicated to creating a better world. While his singing style and themes resemble his father’s, Ziggy has carved out his own place in the realm of reggae music. Through his impactful music and humanitarian efforts, Ziggy has left a lasting legacy and continues to make a difference in the lives of people worldwide.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: David Nesta Ziggy Marley
- Age: 55 Years, 55 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Orly Marley
- Father: Bob Marley
- Mother: Rita Marley
- Siblings: Cedella Marley, Cerita Marley, Damian Marley, Julian Marley, Karen Marley, Ky-Mani Marley, Makeda Jahnesta, Robert Marley, Rohan Marley, Sharon Marley, Stephanie Marley, Stephen Marley
- Children: Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta Marley, Daniel Marley, Gideon Robert Nesta Marley, Judah Victoria Marley, Justice Marley, Zuri Marley
- Born Country: Jamaica
- Philanthropists
- Jamaican Men
- Height: 5’9″ (175 cm), 5’9″ Males
Childhood & Early Life
Ziggy Marley, born as David Nesta Marley, is the eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley. He spent part of his childhood in the poor neighborhood of Trench Town in Kingston. As he grew up, he learned singing and in 1979, he, along with his three other brothers and sisters, recorded their debut single, “Children Playing in the Streets”. He and his brother Stephen also sang at their father’s funeral in 1981.
Career
Ziggy Marley and his siblings formed the band “The Melody Makers” and released their debut album, “Play the Game Right”, in 1985, which received poor reviews. They released another unsuccessful album before finding success with their breakthrough album, “Conscious Party”, in 1988. Their album “One Bright Day” in 1989 was critically acclaimed and popular, but their next two albums did not perform well. In 1991, Marley and his band contributed the song “Give A Little Love” to the Disney album “For Our Children”. Marley became politically active and began working with the UN. He released a solo album called “Dragonfly” in 2003 and his second solo album, “Love Is My Religion”, in 2006. He also released a children’s album titled “Family Time” in 2009 and his fourth studio album, “Wild and Free”, in 2011.
Major Works
The single “Tomorrow People” from the album “Conscious Party” peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Marley’s second solo album, “Love Is My Religion”, was a commercial and critical success, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. His children’s album, “Family Time”, also received critical acclaim and won a Grammy Award.
Awards & Achievements
Marley’s second solo album, “Love Is My Religion”, won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2007. His album “Family Time” won a Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children in 2010. He also won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2013 for his song “I Love You Too” in the “Children’s and Animation” category.
Personal Life & Legacy
Ziggy Marley is married to Orly Agai and they have six children together. He is the founder of the organization Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (URGE), which helps children in need, particularly in Jamaica and Ethiopia. He also supports the non-profit organization “Little Kids Rock”, which provides free musical instruments to children in public schools across the US. Marley has lent his voice to the character Ernie in the 2004 animated film “Shark Tale”.
Trivia
Ziggy Marley lent his voice to the character Ernie, a Rasta jellyfish henchman, in the 2004 animation film “Shark Tale”.