About Me
Julian Marley has been around music all his life. Born in London in 1975, he has been blessed both by his father's great talent and legacy and by the unique perspective that comes with an upbringing in a multicultural community. Since recording his first song at age five at the Marley family home in Kingston, Julian has become a skillful, self-taught musician, mastering the bass, drums, and keyboards. In 1989 he released his first album, titled "Uprising" -- also the name of his new band. He moved to Jamaica in 1992 and began to work with such reggae veterans as Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Earl "Wire" Lindo, Tyrone Downie and Earl "Chinna" Smith.His most recent release, "Lion in the Morning", is the culmination of his musical development to date, a conscious effort that reflects his growing maturity and musical sophistication. Collaborating on the album with Julian was the Ghetto Youths International production team founded by siblings Stephen and Ziggy. The family connection goes further: it was recorded at the newly renovated Marley Music studio at Hope Road in Kingston, the studio where his father created some of his most important and well-known work. While clearly reflecting his roots and heritage, the album is his however his own testament.A veteran performer despite his youth, Julian has performed at Jamaica's Sumfest and Sunsplash shows, and has toured in Japan, Brazil and Mexico. He and brother Damian were also featured as part of the "Marley Magic" North American tour in 1996. His current tour will include shows throughout the United States. Catch this young Lion now at a venue near you.........................................................
.............For Julian Marley, music is life, life is music and both are blessings from above. "From a small age music has been there in my life. It's just natural. And it is with the inspiration of the Most High that I create my songs," the artist, a son of Bob Marley, explains. Born on June 4th, 1975 in London, England, Julian's development as a singer/songwriter began when, at age five, he cut his first demo tape, recording a version of his father's classic composition, "Slave Driver," at the Marley family's Tuff Gong studio in Kingston. Since that auspicious beginning, Julian has devoted himself to a life in music, mastering a variety of instruments and writing songs that reflects his dedication to spiritual upliftment and social change.The 90s were a watershed period for the young artist. During these years, Julian formed his own band (the Uprising band), released a critically acclaimed album (1996's Lion in the Morning, on which he wrote or co-wrote all the songs) and toured the world, both as a solo performer backed by Uprising and as a member of Ghetto Youths International, a musical collective whose core members are Julian and his brothers, Stephen and Damian. Together, Julian and Damian were the opening act for Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers' 1995 US tour and featured artists in 1997 on the rock-oriented Lollapalooza festival tour. Julian also assisted his brother Stephen with production on 1999's platinum selling Chant Down Babylon and, along with Spragga Benz and Marley siblings Stephen, Cedella, Damian and Ky-Mani, contributed an inspired version of "Master Blaster" to the 2003 Stevie Wonder tribute album, Conception.......................................
...................................Julian's newest offering, A Time and Place, is an organic fusion of rootical reggae and breezy jazz sounds that represent the next milestone in his artistic path. "Coming from Lion in the Morning," Julian explains, "I have more knowledge and I’m growing. And this is a very personal album. A lot of it came from reasoning with bredren. We would converse about a situation and just start writing from there." The thirteen tracks are, as the artist himself says, "very much of the time. If you check it out right now, most of the music out there is about bling blings and crazy things. My songs are to be taken as wake up calls." Each is built on a solid foundation of traditional reggae but contain a wide range of influences, showcasing Julian's natural love of music. "Harder Dayz" is a buoyant hip hop-oriented track that samples the famous trumpet riff from his father's song, "Natty Dread." " Build Together" (with its battle cry refrain of "it grieves their hearts/ to see I and I together"), "Systems" and "Couldn't Be the Place" are classic, hard-driving reggae anthems in the style of such legends as Burning Spear, Jacob Miller and Bob himself. The reggae-funky "One Way Train," demonstrates Julian's freestyle scatting prowess, the samba-tinged "Sunshine" is a Latin-Caribbean love song and "Sitting in the Dark" recalls the golden age of Jamaican ska. On the other end of the spectrum and effortlessly channeling a progressive 70s groove, is "Summer Daisies." Powered by flute, horn section and wah-wah guitar, the tune urges spiritual awareness on a universal level.......................................................
As is the case with all Marley projects, A Time and Place is truly a family affair. "The album features production by myself, Stephen and Damian, with Stephen coming with the overhand for everything," Julian says. Brothers Ziggy and Rohan play percussion on the album's opening track, "Where She Lay" and Bunny Wailer contributes percussion to "Father's Place." Julian also acknowledges the Uprising band's contribution. "The band has evolved over the past few years with members changing, but its core has remained with the same rootical bassman, Owen "Dready" Reid, which is great." Dready and the rest of the group will be on the road with Julian as he tours in support of the new album.For Julian Marley, music transcends labels. "It all comes down to listening and loving music," the artist reasons. "If you love music, any kind of music, it just comes through you. We love blues and jazz and all kinds of music. It just filters through you.".........................
