Heather Skovlund Music illustration for 360 Magazine

Bob Marley Birthday Celebration

The Marley Family and UMe will honor the legacy of Bob Marley, commemorating his 77th birthday by honoring his life, legacy, and music with a multitude of in-person, virtual, and philanthropic events.

The Marley Family is celebrating the occasion by returning to Marley’s Roots. Seven different events over seven days have been curated to give back to the community in Jamaica in observance of his birthday. The scheduled events include a Back To Our Roots beach cleanup and concert as well as a newly curated exhibition at the Bob Marley Museum, titled The 7 Roots of Bob Marley’s Livity, which features the work of young, up-and-coming artists. In addition, a new web series of the same name will premiere on Tuff Gong TV, which explores the natural mystic of Reggae Legend and his enduring influence on Jamaica and the world. Marley’s Earthstrong festivities culminate on February 6, with a limited-capacity concert celebration at Tuff Gong International, in Kingston, Jamaica which will be live-streamed on Bob Marley’s official YouTube channel. In addition, an extraordinary Lion’s Den Concert by Stephen Marley from Miami, FL., will also premiere on February 6. Watch Marley’s 77th Earthstrong ROOTS festivities on Bob Marley’s official YouTube channel HERE.

Adding to the birthday festivities, “Dreams Of Freedom,” the ninth episode of the Webby-nominated 12-part documentary series Legacy, will premiere February 3 at 7am PT/10am ET on Bob Marley’s Official YouTube Channel. Click HERE now to view the trailer for Legacy Episode 9, “Dreams Of Freedom,” on Bob Marley’s Official YouTube Channel.

“Dreams Of Freedom” highlights Bob Marley’s aspirations for Tuff Gong International to become the Motown of Reggae and his spirit of self-reliance. The episode features the voice of Bob Marley, along with interviews with Marley’s wife and the matriarch of the Marley Family, Rita Marley. Marley family members, children Cedella, Ziggy, Julian, Rohan, Ky-Mani, and Damian, granddaughter, Donisha Prendergast, along with Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt of the I-Threes, and more also join. Watch Episode 9, “Dreams Of Freedom,” as well as Legacy Episodes 1-8 HERE

The Marley Brothers (Ziggy, Stephen, Damian, Julian, and Ky-Mani Marley) have not released music together in over a decade. “Cornerstone” (a cover of their father Bob Marley’s song) is out February 4, the day before the Brothers headline the CaliVibes Festival in Long Beach, CA in celebration of their father’s birthday. “Cornerstone” will be available via Ziggy Marley’s Tuff Gong Worldwide and Stephen Marley’s Ghetto Youth labels. 

Ziggy will offer an exclusive livestream of his special tribute concert in honor of his father’s birthday, which took place on May 30, 2021 at Petco Park in San Diego. Fans around the world can tune in on Friday, February 11th to stream the epic special event. 

Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Radio (SiriusXM channel 19) plans to air “Bob Marley Roots 77 Birthday Concert,” a special concert recorded at Tuff Gong International Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. With a lineup of reggae, roots, and dancehall legends and contemporary stars, all paying tribute–the concert features Marcia Griffiths, Bugle, Amanyea, Tony Rebel, Gyptian, Queen Ifrica, and Black Am I. Hear it on Tuff Gong Radio on February 6, and then hear it on the SXM App starting February 7.

In this digital era, Bob Marley remains one of the most followed posthumous artists on social media, and MARLEY77 serves to bring his music and message to the digital foreground, reaching new audiences and perspectives with innovative content and groundbreaking technology. Special live events, exclusive digital content, recordings, exhibitions, plus rare and unearthed treasures will also be revealed throughout the year. Bob Marley’s music continues to inspire generation upon generation, as his legacy lives on through his message of love, justice, and unity, a sentiment needed now more than ever. In conjunction with Tuff Gong and UMe, a division of the Universal Music Group, the Marley family will continue to ensure the highest quality, integrity, and care is taken to honor Bob’s legacy and to celebrate one of the 20th century’s most important and influential figures.

About Bob Marley

Bob Marley, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is notable not only as the man who put reggae on the global map but, as a statesman in his native Jamaica, he famously brought together the country’s warring factions. Bob Marley remains one of the 20th century’s most important and influential entertainment icons. Marley’s lifestyle and music continue to inspire new generations as his legacy lives on through his music. Marley’s music catalog has sold millions of albums worldwide. His iconic collection LEGEND holds the distinction of being the longest-charting album in the history of Billboard magazine’s Catalog Albums chart and remains the world’s best-selling reggae album. Marley’s accolades include inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994) and ASCAP Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010), a GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), multiple entries in the GRAMMY® Hall Of Fame, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2001)

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