shudder and shake from the sound system outside.
“With his success, I think humanity has been able
to find a way to see themselves beyond color. And
that’s very important in this time. I think we need to
look at Bob Marley’s music in a more academic per-
spective. There needs to be more intellectualization
of his words, his thoughts, and application of that
from the levels of government, not just entertain-
ment. He shouldn’t be seen as just a cultural icon.”
In Jamaica, of course, Bob Marley is much
more than a cultural icon — he’s everywhere.
Landing at Norman Manley International Airport
in Kingston means being able to pick up a cup
of Marley Coffee from Cafe Blue while checking
out T-shirts, hats and bracelets emblazoned with
Bob’s face and name at a Tuff Gong Trading booth
in the terminal. And the grounds of 56 Hope
Road are peppered with quotes and murals, some
based on lyrics from his songs, others snippets
from interviews he gave. In the back of the house,
behind a small wall, is the one-room shack where
Georgie — famous for making the fire light in “No
Woman, No Cry” — still lives, though his health is
on the decline.
Today, throngs of people cover the grounds
for a concert headlined by Julian, Damian and
Ky-Mani Marley. Children with their parentsare everywhere, as are reggae fanatics, Kingston
dreads, a slew of Rastafarians and an elderly man
wearing a crown of thorns. Booths that line the
driveway on the side and back of the house are
set up for the Bob Marley Foundation; One Love
Youth Camp; local designers selling clothing,
jewelry, photo prints, books, wristbands, dolls,
baskets, hot sauces and amulets; ital chefs by the
back gate; and, for a time, a man with a parrot, a
rabbit and a turtle in a small pen. It feels like a
carnival, with Red Stripe beer sold by the bucket
and marijuana by the branch — at once chaotic
and impossibly laid-back.
“This shows us that our father’s work was loved
by a whole universe of people, and his message,”
says Julian Marley, 44 , a few hours before he and
his brothers take the stage. “It’s more than words
can explain.”
Getting all the Marleys in one place can feel simi-
larly overwhelming. At one point, over a dozen fami-
ly members were set to attend the tribute concert on
Feb. 6 ; ultimately, several dropped out due to illness
in the days, and even hours, before the main event.
The flu had been particularly bad this year, everyone
reasoned, resigning themselves with disappointed
sighs. There were well wishes, though no one was
too worried — these things happen. Right?t’s a Tuesday afternoon in mid-March, and
Skip Marley should be headlining a show at
SOB’s in Manhattan. Instead he’s in Miami,
livestreaming a four-song set on Billboard’s
Facebook page, playing his grandfather’s
songs “So Much Trouble in the World” and
“Redemption Song,” as well as his own singles
“Slow Down” and “Cry to Me.” Over 20 minutes,
he raises $ 2 , 000 for Meals on Wheels, while some
5 , 500 people tune in from places as far-flung as
Brazil, Spain, Trinidad, Ireland, Morocco, Canada,
Italy and New Zealand.
Skip is part of the third generation of Marleys
now coming of age — and with his long dreads,
thick patois and soulful voice, he’s the one most
frequently connected with his grandfather. He’s
also the one who has taken the most concrete
steps into the traditional music industry: His deal
with Island continues the family lineage on the
label that his grandfather helped make famous;
he performed at the Grammys with Katy Perry in
2017 to sing their collaboration “Chained to the
Rhythm”; and his song “Lions” soundtracked Kend-
all Jenner’s infamous Pepsi ad later that year.
But he’s just one of dozens of his cousins who are
carrying on the family tradition — through music,
activism, charity work, film, law and more. “I mean,Julian Marley photographed
Feb. 6 at the Bob Marley
Museum in Kingston.APRIL 25 , 2020 • WWW.BILLBOARD.COM 398fea_coverstory_marleys_lo [P]_27879288.indd 39 4/22/20 3:33 PM