“Anything that sounds good is good,” says Stephen Marley, paraphrasing Duke Ellington. Don’t be surprised tohear the King of Reggae’s son referencing Harlem’s master of the jazz orchestra. Never one to limit hismusical horizons, Stephen has always listened without prejudice, letting his inspiration set him free as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer—whether collaborating with his illustrious musical family, or with Lauryn Hill, Nas, or Erykah Badu.
Beginning his lifelong musical journey at the age of six, Stephen shared historic stages with his legendaryfather and toured the world with his brother Ziggy and sisters Cedella and Sharon, The Melody Makers. TheTuff Gong instilled in all of his children a strict work ethic and an awareness that “music is way more than justmusic.”
Over the past 45 years, Stephen has won no fewer than eight Grammy Awards—three with The Melody Makers, twice as a producer of his younger brother Damian Marley, and three times as a solo artist. Every one of hissolo projects to date has topped the Billboard Reggae charts. Stephen Marley’s place in music history isalready secure. He does not really need to push the envelope, to defy expectations, to let the whole world intohis world. And yet that is just what he’s decided to do
