By RT
Over the past decade the Marley children have been following in their fathers musical footsteps, racking up Grammy Awards and bringing conscious songs on the one drop rhythm to every corner of the globe, and just to think that they are well on their way to do more for Reggae in the future.
At the Annual Reggae Awards held on Saturday February 9, 2008. Stephen Marley the second son of Bob Marley and the third Marley offspring to consecutively walk away with the award of best album in the reggae category for his 2005 offering of ‘Mind Control’ album. Mind Control was released June 7th of 2005 and as earned consistent positive reviews ever since.
All the nominees for best Reggae album this year are previous Grammy winners they are; The Burning Spear Experience – Burning Spear; The End Of An American Dream – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry; Anniversary – Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang and Light Your Light – Toots & The Maytals.
Many predicted that this would have been Stephen Marley year to walk away with the Grammy Awards which as been dominated by the Marley family over the last two years. His brother Ziggy Marley and Damian Marley .Damian Marley the youngest brother took home two Grammy’s in (2005) for Welcome To Jam Rock, Welcome To Jam Rock won in the best Reggae Album category and the other in the best Urban/ Alternative category. Ziggy Marley won the year after (2006) for Love Is My Religion which is his second solo album.
It was 1979 that Stephen Marley made his official debut when the melody makers (group with his siblings) cut their first single, Children playing on the streets and follow it up in 1985 in their debut LP, playing the Game Right.
In addition to recording his debut album, Stephen has been hunkered down in the studio serving as a secret weapon behind both of Damian’s past two Grammy winners as well as the Ghetto Youths International and Tuff Gong imprints.
Stephen’s production skills can also by heard on albums by Buju Banton, brother Julian and Ziggy, Spearhead, Eve, Erykah Badu,
Capleton and Mr. Cheeks. He performed as a vocalist, percussionist or guitarist on albums by all the above as well as albums by Eric Capleton and others.
Stephen’s love for Reggae music has been past through his veins from his father Reggae icon Bob Marley, he also has a love for rock, R&B, Nyabinghi rhythms, Flamenco and hip-hop.
