Stephen Marley at WrocLove Fest: Jamaican reggae and “The Root Of Life”

This year's Grammy winner and son of reggae icon Bob Marley will play in Wrocław on 20 June as part of WrocLove Fest. Stephen Marley has 8 Grammys to his name, and “Revelation Part 1 – The Root Of Life” consolidated his strong position on the international reggae scene.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, and raised in Jamaica's capital Kingston, he is both a producer and a singer. He was a member of Melody Makers, performing alongside his siblings: brother Ziggy and sisters Cedella and Sharon. Stephen was just 8 when he recorded his first single, “Sugar Pie”, in 1980.

He is an excellent producer, responsible for many of the Melody Makers’ hit songs. He is also behind most of the tracks on his youngest brother Damian Marley’s three albums, including his biggest hit, “Welcome to Jamrock”. Beyond production, he appeared on its tracks “All Night”, “Pimpa’s Paradise”, “For the Babies” and “Hey Girl”. Stephen is also responsible for songs by his brother Julian Marley. He was executive producer of the hit album “Chant Down Babylon”, featuring new versions of classic songs by his father Bob Marley in refreshed arrangements sung by artists including Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Guru, Busta Rhymes and The Roots.

In 2003, Stephen and Damian were responsible for the riddim album “Educated Fools”, released through Ghetto Youth International and Tuff Gong International. The album demonstrated Stephen's production artistry, as reflected in its roster of artists, including Capleton, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer and Ky-Mani Marley.

After many years producing his brothers’ albums, it was time for Stephen to make his own solo record. His debut, “Mind Control”, was released in 2007 and won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album the following year. He repeated that success with the acoustic version of “Mind Control” in 2010. He was also invited to join the Blazed and Confused 2009 Tour, appearing alongside American rap star Snoop Dogg. In November 2010, he released the single “Jah Army”, featuring guest appearances by Damian Marley and Buju Banton. It immediately became a hit in Jamaica, the United States and Europe. Stephen’s third solo album, “Revelation Part 1 – The Root Of Life”, appeared in early 2011 and earned him his third Grammy Award in 2012.

This remarkable artist will visit the capital of Lower Silesia for Wrocław's city celebrations, playing on Wyspa Słodowa on 20 June. Gentleman & The Evolution will also perform that day. It promises to be an unforgettable night starring reggae masters, with Wrocław becoming the world's reggae capital for a day.

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