When Bob Marley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone magazine had this to say:
“Bob Marley was the Third World's first pop superstar. He was the man who introduced the world to the mystic power of reggae. He was a true rocker at heart, and as a songwriter, he brought the lyrical force of Bob Dylan, the personal charisma of John Lennon, and the essential vocal stylings of Smokey Robinson into one voice.”
Indeed, Marley’s musical legacy defies superlatives. Genealogically, Marley was also prolific. He is officially acknowledged to have 11 children, but it is possible that he fathered others. Many of his kids are also famous reggae superstars, and others are carrying on his humanitarian ideals.
As we celebrate 50 years of Jamaican independence, CBC Music examines the family tree of the "first family" of reggae.
Click the image to enlarge.
Sharon Marley Prendergast
Arrival: Nov. 23, 1964.
Mom: Rita Marley (in a previous relationship).
Claim to fame: Sang with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.
Factoid: Curates the Bob Marley Museum.
Cedella Marley
Arrival: Aug. 23, 1967.
Mom: Rita Marley.
Claim to fame: CEO, Tuff Gong International; fashion designer; singer.
Factoid: Designed 2012 Jamaican track and field Olympic uniforms.
David Nesta “Ziggy” Marley
Arrival: Oct. 17, 1968.
Mom: Rita Marley.
Claim to fame: Eldest son of Bob; leader of Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.
Factoid: Won a Grammy for best musical album for children; recently started DJing on SiriusXM's The Joint.
Stephen Robert Nesta “Ragga” Marley
Arrival: April 20, 1972.
Mom: Rita Marley.
Claim to fame: Won a Grammy in February for his second solo album, Revelation Pt 1: The Root of Life; known as great producer.
Factoid: Nicknamed Ragga.
Robert “Robbie” Marley
Arrival: May 16, 1972.
Mom: Pat “Lucille” Williams (Bob wrote “Midnight Ravers” after his rendezvous with Williams).
Claim to fame: Motorcycle stunt rider; owns a clothing store called Vintage Marley.
Factoid: Had a bit roll in the 2003 movie 2 Fast 2 Furious.
Rohan Marley
Arrival: May 19, 1972.
Mom: Janet Dunn (Hunt). Dunn/Hunt was a dancer in a club; not much is known about her – including her last name Dunn or Hunt.
Claim to fame: Entrepreneur; played in the CFL for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Factoid: Has five kids with Lauryn Hill.
Karen Marley
Arrival: 1973.
Mom: Janet Bowen (details are sketchy; some sources referred to her as “Janet in England”).
Claim to fame: Lives mostly outside the public eye.
Factoid: Studied interior design in Canada.
Stephanie Marley
Arrival: Aug. 17, 1974.
Mom: Rita (according to Bob’s mother, Cedella Booker, Stephanie’s father was a man named Ital, but Bob acknowledged her as his daughter).
Claim to fame: Humanitarian; entrepreneur; owner of the Marley Resort and Spa in Nassau, Bahamas.
Factoid: Graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a bachelor of arts degree.
Julian Ricardo Marley
Arrival: June 4, 1975.
Mom: Lucy Pounder (from Barbados).
Claim to fame: Musician; his third album, Awake, was nominated for a Grammy.
Factoid: Raised mostly in London, England.
Ky-Mani Marley
Arrival: Feb. 26, 1976.
Mom: Anita Belnavis (Caribbean table tennis champion).
Claim to fame: Musician; actor.
Factoid: His name means "adventurous traveller;" starred in the movies Shottas and One Love.
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
Arrival: July 21, 1978.
Mom: Cindy Breakspeare (Breakspeare was born in Toronto; won the Miss World pageant in 1976; was also a jazz singer).
Claim to fame: Musician; won two Grammy Awards for Welcome to Jamrock.
Factoid: Nickname derived from Bob’s nickname, "Tuff Gong;" was only two when Bob died.
Two children not acknowledged by the Bob Marley website, but seem to be by many other sources:
Makeda Jahnesta Marley
Arrival: May 30, 1981.
Mom: Yvette Crichton.
Imani Carole
Arrival: May 22, 1963.
Mom: Cheryl Murray.
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