World of Jamaican Music

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An illustrated map of the creators of Jamaican music and how they are connected.

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Ziggy Marley

Artist. Reggae, revival

Active
1979-present
Sunrise
October 17, 1968, Kingston, Jamaica

David "Ziggy" Marley is the eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley and, tied with his brother Stephen by count of Grammys, the most decorated artist in reggae.

He was twelve when his father departed. The Melody Makers, formed with his sisters Sharon and Cedella and his brother Stephen, had already made their first record, "Children Playing in the Streets," written by Bob; the group ran for about fifteen years and ten albums. Conscious Party (1988), produced by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads, was the breakthrough, and "Tomorrow People" the hit; it won a Grammy, as did One Bright Day (1989) and Fallen Is Babylon (1997).

His solo career from the 2000s has been decorated in turn, though Uncut found that "when eldest son sounds so like father," comparison is invited: Love Is My Religion (2006), Fly Rasta (2014) and Ziggy Marley (2016) all won Best Reggae Album, and two children's records, Family Time and More Family Time, won in the children's category. He was an executive producer, with Cedella and Stephen, of Bob Marley: One Love (Music Inspired by the Film), which won Best Reggae Album at the 2025 ceremony, taking his total to nine.

Outside music he runs U.R.G.E., a foundation working on nutrition and education for children in Jamaica, has written children's books including I Love You Too (2014), and created the comic Marijuanaman. In 2024 he toured with Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian as the Marley Brothers.

Last updated November 5, 2026

Connections

Notes

  1. The Recording Academy lists nine wins and sixteen nominations. "Ziggy Marley," artist page, Grammy.com, accessed October 5, 2026, https://www.grammy.com/artists/ziggy-marley/10658/. Stephen Marley also has nine. "Stephen Marley," artist page, Grammy.com, accessed October 5, 2026, https://www.grammy.com/artists/stephen-marley/9331. The Rough Guide calls Ziggy "Bob and Rita's second child." Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton, The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd ed. (London: Rough Guides, 2004), 359.
  2. The Rough Guide says the four siblings formed the Melody Makers at the close of the 1970s and cut "Children Playing In the Streets" for Tuff Gong, "one of the few instances when they have recorded a song written by their father." Barrow and Dalton, Rough Guide to Reggae, 359.
  3. Wikipedia says he led the group until 2002, "releasing eight studio albums." "Ziggy Marley," Wikipedia, accessed October 5, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggy_Marley. The Rough Guide dates their debut album, Play the Game Right, to 1985. Barrow and Dalton, Rough Guide to Reggae, 359.
  4. The album credits Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth as producers. "Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers - Conscious Party," Discogs, accessed October 5, 2026, https://www.discogs.com/release/1143567. The Recording Academy calls "Tomorrow People" his "lone Top 40 hit." "Ziggy Marley," Grammy.com.
  5. The Recording Academy lists wins for Conscious Party and One Bright Day (Best Reggae Recording, 1989 and 1990 ceremonies) and Fallen Is Babylon (Best Reggae Album, 1998 ceremony). "Ziggy Marley," Grammy.com.
  6. The Recording Academy lists Best Reggae Album wins for Love Is My Religion (2007), Ziggy Marley in Concert (2014), Fly Rasta (2015) and Ziggy Marley (2017), and one children's award, for Family Time (2010); More Family Time does not appear. "Ziggy Marley," Grammy.com. "Ziggy Marley: Dragonfly," review, Uncut, accessed November 5, 2026, https://uncut.co.uk/reviews/ziggy-marley-dragonfly-22286.
  7. The Recording Academy lists him among the credited winners for Bob Marley: One Love - Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe) at the 2025 ceremony, with Cedella and Stephen Marley. "Ziggy Marley," Grammy.com.
  8. The Recording Academy calls him "the founder of U.R.G.E. Foundation." "Ziggy Marley," Grammy.com. Wikipedia describes its education, health and environmental work in Jamaica, Africa and North America. "Ziggy Marley."
  9. Wikipedia dates Marijuanaman to 2011 and notes that his song "I Love You Too" won a Daytime Emmy in 2013. "Ziggy Marley." The picture book I Love You Too, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska, was published by Akashic Books on April 15, 2014. "I Love You Too," Akashic Books, accessed October 21, 2026, https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/i-love-you-too/.
  10. DancehallMag announced the 2024 tour with Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian, "their first joint tour since 2004." Dani Mallick, "The Marley Brothers Announce First Tour In 20 Years," DancehallMag, April 15, 2024, https://www.dancehallmag.com/2024/04/15/news/the-marley-brothers-announce-first-tour-in-20-years.html.

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