Roots, Rock, Reggae

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Lore & Background

Marley was born on 4 June 1975 in London. He was interested in music from an early age, having learned to play the keyboard, drums, bass and guitar. Along with his paternal half-brothers Ziggy Marley and Stephen Marley, he became involved with Ghetto Youth International, a production company, in 1989. Marley released a solo album, Lion in the Morning, in 1996 and embarked on a world tour. He and his half-brother Damian Marley toured with the Lollapalooza festival in 1997. His second album, A Time and Place, was released in 2003. In 2008, the Jamaican government invited Marley and the Uprising band to represent Jamaica and perform at the Beijing Olympics. His third album, Awake (released in 2009), was nominated for a prestigious Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category. In 2011, he participated in Mawazine festival that took place at Rabat, Morocco. In January 2013, he performed a reggae concert in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In August 2013, he performed at the Fêtes de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland.

In Their Own Story

Julian was born out of wedlock outside of Bob's marriage to singer Rita Marley. He is the only one of Bob Marley's sons born in the UK. Marley was raised by his mother, Lucy Pounder, in England, and travelled frequently to Jamaica to visit his brothers. Growing up, he was surrounded by a musical atmosphere, which helped him quickly develop and adapt to the musical lifestyle. At an early age, he taught himself how to master the bass, drums, guitar, and keyboards. By the age of five, Marley had recorded his first demo at the Marley family home in Kingston, Jamaica. While growing up, Marley lived between England and Jamaica and eventually he found himself creating a home base in Miami, Florida, where the family owned their own studio called The Lions Den. Although Marley was a Jamaican at heart, he is said to credit his British upbringing as a major influence on his music. As Marley reflects: 'I feel privileged to be part of the musical roots that my father, Bob Marley, laid in England. I look forward to relate the cultural gifts and musical creations that he has bestowed on me.' In 1993, Marley moved to Jamaica to be closer to his brothers. By making that move, it inspired the Marley Brothers to form their own musical path. They created the group called the Ghetto Youths Crew which was formed by Julian, Stephen, Damian, and Kymani Marley. The project showed to be such a success that the brothers toured the United States for three years. Marley, also known as 'Ju Ju' Marley will remain a spiritual soul with a musical visionary that he will embark on an international mission. Marley stated, 'I do not plan the next step, I just continue on with Jah Works and somehow things will just come together naturally that way.'

Reader's Guide

In 1996, Marley released his debut album titled Lion in the Morning. That first album helped launch him into the public eye. The album was recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Marley created Lion in the Morning to reflect on his roots and heritage which he is very proud of. The album features a wide range of popular musicians from Owen 'Dreddie' Reid, Earl 'Chinna' Smith, Tyron Downie, Stephen Marley, Cedella Marley and Sharon Marley, among others. The record was followed by a successful international tour with The Uprising. Some of the tour stops from his tour were Jamaica's Sumfest and Sunsplash Show, Marley Magic family performance at Central Park Summer Stage Concert Series in New York, and also territories like Brazil, Japan, and Mexico. Marley also got the opportunity to work with his brother Damian at the Lollapalooza Tour. During these times in Jamaica, Marley studied a lot of legendary veterans he looked up to, including Aston 'Family Man' Barrett, Earl 'Wire' Lindo, Tyrone Downie, and Earl Smith, by all whom he was inspired. Marley wrote two un-released songs at this time, 'Uprising' and 'What They Did Wrong', in response to the accident of his companion who is also the Wailers' drummer, Carlton Barrett's, murder outside his home in Jamaica. Subsequently, Marley formed a reggae band called The Uprising, which was inspired by his song, made up of young Jamaican musicians. The Uprising and Marley went on to open up for his brother Ziggy Marley and his band, The Melody Makers. He also got the chance to perform with the Wailers, which included the son of Carlton Barrett who played the drums. Marley contributed to a vast range of musical elements on Lauryn Hill's album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which became an award-winning album. They recorded the album on Tuff Gong Records in Jamaica while Marley played the guitar on some tracks. During 1999, Marley went back to the studio alongside his brothers Damian and Stephen and started to produce the platinum-selling remix album Chant Down Babylon, which had various rock and hip-hop artists covering Bob Marley's and The Wailers songs. Julian Marley received two Grammy Award nominations. His fourth album, As I Am, was released on 25 January 2019, and received a nomination for a Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category. In 2022, he and Hasidic hip-hop artist Moshe Reuven released the song 'Say', which was critically acclaimed, having been highlighted by places such as Rolling Stone. At the 66 Annual Grammy Awards, Julian won a Grammy for Reggae Album of the Year.

Did You Know?

• Julian Marley is the only one of Bob Marley's sons born in the UK.
• By the age of five, Marley had recorded his first demo at the Marley family home in Kingston, Jamaica.
• In 2008, the Jamaican government invited Marley and the Uprising band to represent Jamaica and perform at the Beijing Olympics.
• Marley contributed to Lauryn Hill's award-winning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, playing guitar on some tracks.
• He shares his birthday with his nephew Skip Marley.