Julian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley and Barbados-born Lucy Pounder is a Grammy award nominated, roots-reggae musician, singer-songwriter, producer and humanitarian. In the same tradition as his father, Julian “Ju Ju” Marley is a devout Rastafarian whose music is inspired by life and spirituality.
Born in London, England on June 4, 1975, Julian is the only son of Bob Marley born and raised in the U.K. Having been raised in England by his mother, Julian frequently visited his family and brothers Ziggy, Stephen, Damian and Kymani in Jamaica. Growing up as a youth in a musical atmosphere Julian quickly adopted a musical lifestyle and at an early age and became a skillful, self-taught musician mastering the bass, drums, guitar and keyboards. By the tender age of five, Marley recorded his first demo at the Marley family home in Kingston, Jamaica. Julian reflects, “From a small age music has been in my life, it was just a natural thing.” During Julianâs formative years in Jamaica, he began to study under legendary reggae veterans such as Aston “Family Man” Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Earl “Wire” Lindo, Tyrone Downie and Earl “Chinna” Smith, all of whom inspired the then fledgling song-bird. In 1987 when influential Wailers drummer Carlton Barrett was murdered outside of his home in Jamaica , Julian wrote two un-released songs , „Uprising and „What They Did Wrong in response to the incident. Subsequently he also formed a band called The Uprising, a roots-reggae band comprised of young Jamaican players. Julian and the Uprising would go on to open up for his brother Ziggy Marleys band, The Melody Makers and performed with The Wailers which at one time included Carlton Barretts son on drums.
In 1993, Julian decided to move to Jamaica to be closer to his brothers, and from that point on the gifted Marley brothers began to form their musical path. Julian, Stephen and Damian called on their brother Kymani Marley and the foursome formed a group called the Ghetto Youths Crew, a project that would find Julian touring the United States with his brothers for three consecutive years. Julian comments, “I give thanks for the musical guidance I received from my father and continue to receive from my brothers. It is with the inspiration of my family and the Most High that I create all of my songs today.” In 1996, Julian released his debut entitled, Lion in the Morning, which launched him into the public eye. The album was a conscious effort and culmination of his musical development to date, and reflected Julians growing maturity and musical sophistication. Recorded at Tuff Gong studios in Kingston, Jamaica and the newly renovated Marley Music studio at Hope Road (the same studio where his father created some of his most important and well-known work) Lion in the Morning is Julians own testament that clearly reflects his roots and heritage. Produced by Aston “Family Man” Barrett and Stephen Marley, the album additionally features contribution rolls from reggae luminaries such as Owen “Dreddie” Reid, Earl Chinna Smith, Tyrone Downie, and Julians siblings Stephen Marley, Cedella Marley and Sharon Marley. The record was followed by a successful international tour with The Uprising, which included Jamaica's Sumfest
and Sunsplash shows, a Marley Magic family performance during New York Citys Central Park Summer Stage Concert Series, and touring into the territories of Japan, Brazil and Mexico. That year, Julian also began to tour extensively with his brother Damian, and the duo landed a featured artist position on the 1997 Lollapalooza tour. In 1998, Julian contributed a vast range of musical elements to singer Lauryn Hills Grammy Award winning album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which was recorded at Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica, including playing guitar on the single, “Forgive Them Father”. In 1999 , Julian went back to work in the studio with his brothers Stephen and Damian , and contributed to the production of the platinum-selling Chant Down Babylon, a remix album by various hip-hop and rock artists covering Bob Marley & The Wailers songs , produced by Stephen Marley .
While Julian's childhood was equally split between England and Jamaica, his early adult years would find “Ju Ju” settling back into London and additionally creating a home base in Miami where the family owned studio, the Lions Den is based. Though Jamaican at heart Julian has widely credited his British upbringing as a deep influence on his musical career. Julian reflects, “Growing up in London remains a large part of who I am today. I feel privileged to be a part of the musical roots that my father laid in England. As the next generation of British-born reggae artists, I look forward to relating the cultural gifts and musical creations that have been bestowed on to me back onto the international music scene.”
In 2002, Julian and his brothers Stephen and Damian officially incorporated Ghetto Youths International, Inc., the family owned record label that was first founded by Ziggy Marley and Stephen Marley in 1989. The label allows the brothers to work closely with each other on musical collaborations. The Marley brothers also produce and release a catalogue of works featuring various artists for the Ghetto Youths imprint, including their own material, a venture that has successfully carried on the Marley tradition of communicating music to a global audience.
In 2003, Julian joined his siblings Stephen, Cedella, Damian, and Kymani to contribute a version of the single, „Master Blaster for Stevie Wonder's tribute album entitled, Conception: An Interpretation of Stevie Wonder Songs. That same year, Marley also recorded his sophomore effort entitled, A Time and Place at the Lions Den in Miami. An organic fusion of rootical reggae and jazz, A Time and Place was produced by brother Stephen Marley, and the album cemented Julians next milestone on his artistic path. Each track on the album was built on a solid foundation of traditional reggae, but contained a wide range influences which showcased Julians love for music. After several years of touring with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, the Ghetto Youths Crew, and his brother Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Julian had created a worldwide fan base for himself. Now, with the release of his sophomore album, Julian embarked on his own world tour that was backed by his band The Uprising, and circled Europe and the United States two times in support of A Time and Place. In 2004, the Roots Rock Reggae Festival in the United States gave Julian the opportunity to unite and perform with all of the Marley brothers. Julian along with the Marley family also went on to perform a series of family „Africa Unite performances, including in Ethiopia in 2005, in Ghana in 2006, and in Jamaica in 2008. At the invitation of the Jamaican government, Julian Marley and The Uprising performed during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and celebrated along-side Jamaica's Gold medal-winning runner, Usain Bolt.
In 2009, Julian Marleys career rose to new heights with the success of his Grammy Award Nominated release entitled, Awake released on Ghetto Youths / Universal Music Group on April 28, 2009. The thought-provoking album was co-produced with his brothers Stephen Marley and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and recorded at the Lions Den in Miami and the Tuff Gong studios in Kingston, Jamaica. This album was inspired by Julians life and spirituality and skillfully weaves diverse musical styles into a set of hypnotic beats and soulful vocals. The music and message
presented throughout Awake was inspired by all the family who have come before. Julian explains, “There is spiritual energy from the ancestors in this album.”
As with the other Marleys, Awake blends R&B, hip hop, dancehall and of course the roots reggae that his father made famous around the world. The albums first single, „Boom Draw, is a blend of classic roots and modern dancehall. Julians brothers also appear on the album, with Stephen Marley collaborating on „A Little Too Late and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley contributing his talents to „Violence in the Streets. Another track, „Oh Girl, features vocals by rapper Mr. Cheeks and Marcia Griffiths, a former Wailers backing vocalist and reggae star in her own right, also contributes background vocals to the album.
Julians „Awake world tour with his band The Uprising flourished in 2009, and stemmed into a major North American, Caribbean and European run that included the Raggamuffin 2010 tour of Australia and New Zealand. In May 2010, Awake took home the award for „Best Album of the Year at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in New York City. Marleys tour with The Uprising continually expanded in 2010, and performance dates found the reggae singer-songwriter circling Europe, and scheduling back to back headlining performances in the U.K., Greece and South America.
A humanitarian at heart, Julian Marley naturally leans toward building on charitable missions and contributing to the Ghetto Youths Foundation, which in the spirit of his father Bob Marley, allows the socially conscious Marley to give back to youths in various communities. Whether is reasoning with children at the football fields in London, or offering his time to benefit concerts, Julian consciously looks towards finding ways to help build positive guidance that benefit children . In February, 2010 Julian and his brother Kymani Marley, along side the Ghetto Youths Foundation produced a „Miami For Haiti benefit show with all proceeds going to various charities aimed toward Haitian relief efforts. Julian urges, “If we have the time, if we have the resources, we must rise to the occasion to help our brothers and sisters in every way possible.”
Julian Marley ranks higher in the consciousness movement of music than most reggae artists recognized today. And while Julian has built a formidable reputation by transcending musical genres, we can be sure that whatever ventures he will embark on in 2011, Julian “Ju Ju” Marley will remain a spiritual, moral, musical visionary with an international mission. Julian enthused, “I dont plan the next step, I just continue on with Jah Works and somehow things seem to just come together naturally that way.”
www.julianmarley.com
