Julian Marley

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Lore & Background

Julian's musical foundation was built on a unique transatlantic upbringing. Born out of wedlock outside Bob Marley’s marriage to Rita, he was raised by his mother in England before moving frequently between the UK and Jamaica. By age five, he had already recorded his first demo at the family home in Kingston, teaching himself bass, drums, guitar, and keyboards. In 1989, he joined Ghetto Youth International with Stephen and Ziggy Marley. A pivotal shift occurred in 1993 when Julian moved to Jamaica to be closer to his brothers, inspiring the formation of the Ghetto Youths Crew alongside Stephen, Damian, and Kymani. This group toured the United States for three years, solidifying a brotherhood that would define his career. He credits his British upbringing as a major influence, stating, "I feel privileged to be part of the musical roots that my father, Bob Marley, laid in England." His spiritual outlook is deeply rooted in Rastafari and Christianity, shaped by early travels to Israel at age 13 where he found the experience "spiritually uplifting."

In Their Own Story

The year 1996 marked Julian's solo debut with Lion in the Morning, recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston. The album featured a stellar lineup including Owen "Dreddie" Reid, Earl "Chinna" Smith, and his siblings Stephen, Cedella, and Sharon Marley. Following this release, he embarked on a world tour with The Uprising band, playing venues like Jamaica's Sumfest and New York's Central Park Summer Stage. This tragedy fueled his resolve as he formed The Uprising band, composed of young Jamaican musicians inspired by veterans like Aston "Family Man" Barrett. In 1999, Julian reunited with brothers Damian and Stephen in the studio to produce Chant Down Babylon, a platinum-selling remix album featuring rock and hip-hop artists covering Bob Marley's songs. He also contributed guitar work to Lauryn Hill's award-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill during this era.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note Julian's consistent presence on the global stage since his debut. In 1997, he toured with Damian Marley at the Lollapalooza festival. His second album, A Time and Place, arrived in 2003. By 2008, the Jamaican government invited him and The Uprising to represent Jamaica at the Beijing Olympics, where they celebrated alongside gold medalist Usain Bolt. His third album, Awake (2009), earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album. He has performed at major festivals including Mawazine in Rabat (2011), a reggae concert in Dhaka (January 2013), and the Fêtes de Genève in Geneva (August 2013). His fourth album, As I Am, released on 25 January 2019, also secured a Grammy nomination. In philanthropy, Julian co-produced the "Miami for Haiti" benefit show in February 2010 with brother Kymani. In October 2021, he was welcomed by the Ethiopian government to initiate the No More Movement.

Did You Know?

• Julian is the only one of Bob Marley's sons born in the UK.
• He recorded his first demo at age five at the Marley family home in Kingston, Jamaica.
• In August 2013, he performed at the Fêtes de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland.
• His 2024 Grammy win was for Colors of Royal, a collaboration album with Antaeus released in 2023.
• He lost his daughter to a brain tumour in 2019; she was born in 2007.