LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Bob Marley's of harmony and peace has hit the road with his sons bringing their late father's timeless message to life in a multi-city tour.
The reggae giant's footsteps are being filled by his five sons 鈥� Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian 鈥� during the . It's the first time the siblings have performed together on tour in two decades.
Marley's sons are honoring his work, performing about 30 of their father's songs including massive hits like 鈥淣o Woman, No Cry," 鈥淐ould You Be Loved,鈥� 鈥淚s This Love鈥� and 鈥淭hree Little Birds.鈥� The 22-date tour kicked off in Vancouver and will conclude in early October in Miami.
鈥淭his was very important," Ziggy said about the tour while his brothers Stephen and Julian sat beside him after a recent rehearsal in Los Angeles. The multi-Grammy winner said it was important for them to collectively find time in their busy schedules and pay homage to their father 鈥� who would have turned 80 in February 2025.
鈥淲hen the opportunity arise, we can come get together, cherish and appreciate it,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hat's the big part of it 鈥� just being able to do this together. Time is moving.鈥�
The Marley Brothers have their own reggae sounds but found a way to blend it all together. They鈥檝e performed together since childhood including a Red Rocks performance in Colorado last year. Two or three have hit the stage in other shows, like when Damian and Stephen performed at the Hollywood Bowl last month.
Julian said years of collaboration have fostered a deep musical synergy between his siblings 鈥� a natural extension of their shared lineage.
鈥淗is message goes beyond barriers. It breaks down barriers,鈥� Julian said. 鈥淣o matter which country you go to, the people need the same message. That's why this is so everlasting. Never ending. That is the reason we are here and doing this mission.鈥�
Marley rose from the gritty Kingston, Jamaica, slum of Trench Town to reach superstar status in the 1970s with hits such as 鈥淕et Up, Stand Up鈥� and 鈥淚 Shot the Sheriff.鈥� His lyrics promoting social justice and African unity made him a global icon before he died from cancer in 1981 at age 36.
But Marley鈥檚 legacy has lived on through several projects including in New York and his biopic 鈥淏ob Marley: One Love,鈥� which in February.
On Sunday, the brothers were presented a proclamation that declared Sept. 22 as 鈥淢arley Brothers Day鈥� in the Queens borough of New York.
His sons have upheld their father鈥檚 heritage while forging their own successful paths including Julian 鈥� who won his first-ever Grammy in February.
Ziggy and Stephen have each won eight Grammys; Damian has taken home five trophies and Ky-Mani has received a nomination.
Along with the tour, Stephen said they are looking to work on a new album together and push their father's message of positivity forward. He said it'll take some time but they aspire to get it 鈥渄one in the near future.鈥�
鈥淭he message in the music is what it's really all about,鈥� said Stephen, who curated the tour's setlist. 鈥淔or me, that message is so necessary now. Our father is one of those powerful ones that got this message across. That's why we're here.鈥�
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
