Ziggy Marley, a nine-time Grammy winner, who is also the oldest son of reggae legend Bob Marley and his wife, Rita, still remembers the day when he was at a beach on Maui and inspiration for a song hit.
“The moment is etched in my memory,” Marley told Aloha State Daily.
That song, “Beach in Hawaiʻi,” which turns 20 years old this year, is still one of his most popular ones on Spotify, where it has been streamed more than 122 million times. It also features renowned ʻukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, who calls the Islands home.
“Hawaiʻi is an inspiration to me,” Marley said. “It reminds me of home. It has a strong spirit. And I just love the nature of Hawaiʻi and the people of Hawaii.”
Now, Marley is back again with his family to share a one-night-only show on Saturday, April 11, at The Republik. Proceeds from the event benefit the Waikīkī Community Center and will be used to help build a new library for keiki.
Marley is the author of a number of books for children, including one which was written with his wife, Orly. Their son, who is 10 years old, has brought some books from their home in Los Angeles to donate, he added. Attendees of the concert can also bring books for the children’s library.
The show comes just a week ahead of the release of “Brightside,” which is Marley’s first studio album in eight years. “Brightside” is set to release as a vinyl exclusive on Saturday, April 18, which is Record Store Day, and digitally on Friday, May 1. It includes “Make it Paradise,” which features Shimabukuro.
“We did that ʻBeach in Hawaiʻi’ song,” he said. “And then when I did ʻMake it Paradise,’ it had that flavor. It had that Hawaiian flavor, that ‘ukulele flavor.”
He called Shimabukuro, who happened to be in Los Angeles for a concert.
“He took the time to come over to my studio,” Marley said. “We hung out, and we did the song. And it's a wonderful song, and I can't wait for people to hear it.”
The album’s eight songs were co-produced by Marley and his brother, Stephen, in his newly built Rebel Lion Studio. The new album also includes the track “Many Mourn for Bob,” released as a single on Feb. 5, which is about his father.
“I'm at a stage in my life where I'm at a maturity now where I can relate to him in a more emotional way,” Marley said. “Not just as a father or a legend, but on a more human perspective on what he went through that a lot of people might not know about. He went through a lot emotionally, mentally. I feel people don't understand. I recognize that. And I relate with him in that way.
"And he passed away very young. It's kind of sad in some ways, even though he's a big legend now. It's still sad. He was so young. It's my empathy toward him and my emotional feelings that I share with him, in a spiritual way also, because writing the song, there was a strong connection with him. ... When I was doing it, I thought to myself, ʻYou know what ... He could have sung this song, himself.’ I had a strong connection to him when I was doing that song.”
Bob Marley & The Wailers inspired generations of Hawaiʻi artists, including Glenn Awong of Maoli, one of the writers of “Country Reggae,” which includes the lyrics: “Sometimes I listen to Marley, while I sip on my whiskey.” Marley is also on the mind of Iam Tongi, the first Pacific Islander to win “American Idol,” who recently referenced “Three Little Birds” as inspiration for his own single, “Sunshine.”
For Marley, his father is still with him.
“My father is a part of me,” he said. “In some ways, the memories are etched in my DNA. But my father — he was a fun guy, too. That's another thing people don't know. He loved to laugh and have fun and make jokes. I remember going to the countryside with him, playing soccer with him. He was a fun person. And I remember that side of him a lot.”
The new album also includes “Racism is a Killa,” released on Feb. 24. The music video, launched on March 26, features his daughters Zuri and Judah.
“We had so much fun doing it,” Marley said. “Even though the topic is kind of heavy, but the video is kind of light and fun. The lyrics are a metaphor. I use racism as a metaphor of a virus that's cured by a Dr. Brightside.”
One of his favorite songs in the new album is “Why Let the World,” he said.
“Sometimes, we need a break from all the negativity,” Marley said. “In the news, in the world, there's a lot of bad stuff going on, and I think that song kind of helped me.”
His charity, Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (URGE) Foundation, helps children in Jamaica, Africa and throughout the world through education, health care, nutrition and more, according to its website. Marley grew up in Jamaica.
“Early in our life, we grew up in the poor part of Kingston,” Marley said. “And gradually, as my father — his career took off — we moved out and lived in better places throughout time. But we never forgot where we came from. And we never forgot the people that didn't make it out like we did.”
His parents set an example of helping others, he said.
“We formed the charity to invite others to help, but it's just a part of who we are trying to help our fellow human beings who need our help,” Marley said. “We really focus on children, though. After a while, the best way to help our communities is to help develop kids and help kids out, so that the future can be brighter for all of us in the community.”
And that is exactly what Marley is focusing on with the benefit show for Waikīkī Community Center this weekend, where attendees can build a library by bringing books to the show and help keiki.
“That's what it's all about,” he said.
Tickets start at $45, plus service fees. Get tickets.
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
