Stephen Marley: Keeping The Marley Musical Legacy Alive

When you’re a descendant of the late great Bob Marley, expectations on you can run very high. After all, decades after his untimely death, the legendary front man is still very much synonymous with reggae music as one of its premiere champions.

However, for Stephen “Raggamuffin” Marley getting into the family business was not something to fear. Rather, it was simply a natural way to simultaneously keep his father’s musical legacy alive and forge his own in the process. Ever mindful of the inevitable drawn comparisons to his famous father, Stephen has maintained a cautious approach to stamping his work with a quality befitting his pedigree.

As a five-time Grammy winner and former member of the successful and critically acclaimed Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Stephen has proven the apple doesn’t fall from the tree.

His passion for music was fostered at a very early age. As an 8-year-old, a fresh-faced Stephen stole the show, singing lead on a song called Sugar Pie at 1981s Reggae Sunsplash -- a concert tribute to his legendary patriarch who died that very year. He spent the remainder of the 80s honing his craft, growing and learning musically alongside his older siblings as a fellow "Melody Maker." It was time well spent as he would apply the things learned to his future creative endeavors.

Since then, he’s been on a steady progression as a respected solo artist, musician, songwriter and producer in his own right. And true to form like his father, the guitar is his instrument of choice.

As an artist and performer, Stephen has lent his touch to numerous guest appearances for the likes of: The Fugees, Erykah Badu, Michael Franti, Dead Prez, Eve, Inner Circle, Nelly, Buju Banton, Capleton, Nas and even baby brother Damian Marley.

As a producer, Stephen handled the bulk of the production duties and creative direction for all three of his younger brother’s solo albums. The standout of the pack was 2005's double Grammy-winning Welcome to Jamrock, which Stephen had a heavy hand in shaping. The album's title track was a smash that was ubiquitously heard all over urban radio that year.

Later in 2007, as a solo artist, Stephen released Mind Control, which was a solid debut effort for a brand new artist. It incorporated elements influenced by the traditional reggae sound his father made famous and others more experimental in nature, which forayed into fusing reggae with hip-hop, jazz and folk.

For lovers of reggae music from the heart of its birthplace in Jamaica, Stephen Marley is a chip off the old block. His vocal tone at times is even eerily reminiscent of the late senior Marley. But the comparisons stop there as Stephen clearly has his sights on doing it his own way. Dad would be proud.

For more on Stephen Marley check out his website and Facebook page.

Be sure to check out Stephen Marley Live @ Best Buy Sunday, July 17 at 3 p.m.