Ziggy Marley

Biography

David Nesta "Ziggy" Marley (born 17 October 1968) is a Jamaican reggae musician, songwriter, producer, author and philanthropist. The eldest son of Bob Marley and Rita Marley, he led the family band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers until 2002, releasing eight studio albums, before launching a solo career on his label Tuff Gong Worldwide. He has won eight Grammy Awards and a Daytime Emmy Award.
Beyond recording and touring, Marley is active in philanthropy through the U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment) Foundation, which supports education, health and environmental projects for children in Jamaica, Africa and North America.
In 2024 he served as a producer of the biographical film Bob Marley: One Love; the companion compilation Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe) won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. His recent projects include the children's picture book Pajammin' (24 June 2025), and a North American "Do The Reggae" co-headlining tour with Burning Spear in fall 2025.
Marley also reunited with his brothers for the Marley Brothers' Legacy Tour in 2024, the siblings' first collective tour in two decades, performing their father's catalog in major U.S. cities.
In 2026, he guest starred on the children's television show Yo Gabba Gabbaland in Season 2 and performed the song, "Try Try Try".

Early life

David Nesta Marley was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on 17 October 1968. He is the eldest son of Bob Marley and Rita Marley. His brothers are Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Ky-Mani Marley, Robert "Robbie" Marley, Rohan Marley, and Damian Marley. His sisters are Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley, Karen Marley, Stephanie Marley, and Serita Stewart. He grew up in Trenchtown, a poor neighborhood of Kingston, and in Wilmington, Delaware, where he attended elementary school for a few years. Ziggy grew up very active, playing soccer and running the mountains, a lifestyle passed on by his parents. As the oldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy grew up surrounded by music. He has five half-brothers, one brother, and two sisters. He received guitar and drum lessons from his father and began sitting in on Wailers recording sessions by the age of ten.

1979–1984: Family beginnings

In the earliest known record of his musical career, Marley performed as part of a singing group called The Seven Do Bees, made up of him and his classmates, and wherein he was given the stage name "Freddie Dic". The name never stuck, however, and instead, David went on to become known as "Ziggy", a nickname often reported to have been given to him by his father Bob Marley, meaning "little spliff". However, Ziggy stated the following to Melody Maker magazine in 1988: "Me name David but me big Bowie fan. So at the time of the Ziggy Stardust album, me call meself Ziggy and now everyone do."
During the late 1970s, Ziggy could also be seen alongside his brother Stephen at some of their father's larger concerts around Jamaica and abroad. In 1978, the duo appeared on stage at the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston, and the following year at Reggae Sunsplash II in Montego Bay.

1985–2002: Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers

In 1979, Ziggy and his siblings Sharon, Cedella and Stephen formed the Melody Makers (named after the British weekly pop/rock music newspaper, Melody Maker) and made their recording debut with "Children Playing in the Streets". The track was written for them by their father, who had composed the song for them four years earlier. All royalties from the single were pledged to the United Nations, to aid its efforts during the International Year of the Child.
The Melody Makers made their onstage debut as a group on 23 September 1979, performing on the same bill as their father for the first and only time at the "Roots Rock Reggae" two-day concert series in Kingston's National Arena. Ziggy was 11 years old at the time. Notable other early moments in Ziggy's musical history include a performance with Stephen at their father's funeral in 1981, and later that year the Melody Makers released their second single, "What A Plot", under the family's Tuff Gong record label. The Melody Makers recorded an unreleased album titled Children Playing in 1979.
Following Bob Marley's death in 1981, Ziggy began performing in his place alongside the Wailers at various shows around Jamaica, and in 1984 the group went on tour in support of the year's Bob Marley Legend compilation album release. The Melody Makers' first fully released album was Play the Game Right in 1985. Their 1988 album Conscious Party was a major worldwide hit and received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. In 1996, the band performed the theme song "Believe in Yourself" for the animated children's show Arthur. Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers won three Grammy Awards and five nominations in total before disbanding in 2002.

2003–2006: Dragonfly/Solo Career beginning

After the Melody Makers disbanded, Ziggy Marley launched a solo career. His debut solo album, Dragonfly×Dragonfly15 April 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Dragonfly4:142True to Myself3:473I Get Out4:164Looking3:205Shalom Salaam5:076In the Name of God5:367Rainbow in the Sky3:068Melancholy Mood4:329Good Old Days4:1710Never Deny You4:0411DYKL (Don’t You Kill Love)3:47, was released in April 2003. The album featured the single "True To Myself", which remains one of his biggest hits. The track "Rainbow in the Sky" features both Flea and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, while "Melancholy Mood" features only Flea.

2006–2011: Tuff Gong Worldwide (independent artist)

In July 2006, his second solo album, Love Is My Religion×Love Is My Religion7 February 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Into the Groove4:162Love Is My Religion3:473Make Some Music4:184Friend2:535Black Cat2:416Beach in Hawaii3:447A Lifetime4:468Be Free3:199Keep On Dreaming4:2010Still the Storms5:3211Love Is My Religion (acoustic)3:5712Be Free (dub)4:04, was released on his independent record label Tuff Gong Worldwide. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, making it Marley's 4th Grammy win.
Marley performed a duet with Donna Summer for her 2008 album Crayons. In May 2009, his third solo album Family Time×Family Time5 May 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Family Time4:202I Love You Too3:333Cry, Cry, Cry4:434Take Me to Jamaica3:185Ziggy Says3:516This Train3:387Wings of an Eagle4:178ABC4:019Hold Em Joe3:3610Walk Tall3:1611Future Man, Future Lady3:3712My Helping Hands0:5413Is There Really a Human Race2:31, was released on Tuff Gong Worldwide. Family Time was presented as a children's album and features family and friends: Rita Marley, Cedella Marley, Judah Marley, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson, Toots Hibbert, Laurie Berkner, Elizabeth Mitchell, and more. This album won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children. In June 2011, Marley released his fourth album Wild and Free×Wild and Free14 June 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Wild and Free4:492Forward to Love3:413It4:374Changes4:065Personal Revolution4:546Get Out of Town4:347Roads Less Traveled4:028Mmmm Mmmm3:309Welcome to the World4:1210A Sign3:2011Reggae in My Head3:5412Elizabeth4:15. The title track, featuring Woody Harrelson, was available for free with the pre-order of Ziggy's first comic book, Marijuanaman.

2012–present: Two more albums

In 2013, Marley's song "I Love You Too" won him a Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Original Song – Children's and Animation category, after it was used in the Cbeebies animation 3rd & Bird. Ziggy released the children's book, I Love You Too, based on the song and illustrated by Agnieszka Jatkowska. In April 2014, Ziggy Marley released his fifth solo studio album, entitled Fly Rasta×Fly Rasta14 April 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1I Don't Wanna Live on Mars3:372Fly Rasta3:403Lighthouse4:214Sunshine3:055Moving Forward3:156You3:237So Many Rising4:088I Get Up3:389You're My Yoko2:5810Give It Away3:51. Fly Rasta won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 57th Grammy Awards. Marley later announced his sixth solo album Ziggy Marley to be released spring 2016.
In May 2018, Marley released his most recent studio album, Rebellion Rises×Rebellion Rises18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1See Dem Fake Leaders3:582The Storm Is Coming3:483World Revolution3:234Your Pain Is Mine3:235Change Your World3:446I Will Be Glad3:377High on Life3:058Circle of Peace3:219I Am a Human3:3210Rebellion Rises3:26, through Tuff Gong Worldwide. The album received rave reviews upon release. Cryptic Rock gave the album 5 out of 5 stars, stating "Politically and socially relevant, Rebellion Rises is a war of music, creating peace with a purpose.". Island Stage called the album "a 10-track masterpiece that continues his father's tradition of promoting emancipation from mental slavery through education, social activism, and healthy living." Reggaeville said the album "is not an angry record. It is not a bitter record. But, it is not a record of hope, either. The time of hoping for change is a notion Marley considers past due. This is a record of action, and for Ziggy Marley, the time for action is now."
Ziggy Marley's studio album Brightside×Brightside18 April 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1JAH We Give Glory4:042Racism is a Killa4:383Hey People Now4:434Why Let the World6:055Many Mourn for Bob3:526Sweet Divine4:237Make It Paradise3:348Brightside3:41, is a therapeutic project focused on mental health, personal struggles, and his family legacy. Recorded in 432 Hz for healing purposes, the album includes "Many Mourn for Bob," the first song he has dedicated to his father, Bob Marley.

Personal life

He is married to Orly Agai, an Israeli of Iranian-Jewish descent, who is a former vice-president of William Morris Agency. They have four children: one daughter, Judah Victoria, and three sons, Gideon Robert Nesta, Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta, and Isaiah Sion Robert Nesta. He also has three children from previous relationships: a son, Bambaata (b. 1989), a daughter, Justice (b. 1991), and another daughter Zuri (b. 1995). He lives in the Toluca Lake area of Los Angeles.

Political views

In October 2023, just days following the Hamas October 7 attacks, Ziggy Marley, along with other 700 notable Hollywood figures, signed an open letter, written by Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), in support of Israel.

U.R.G.E. Foundation

The Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (U.R.G.E.) was founded in 2007 by Ziggy Marley. It is a non-profit, charity foundation working towards improving educational, health and community environments for children.
U.R.G.E acts worldwide, but their main acting areas include Jamaica and Ethiopia, among other African countries. U.R.G.E.'s missions include action and awareness.
Action:

Seek communities that may benefit from U.R.G.E.'s help
Raise funds via individual and corporate donations, product sales, ticket sales, and charitable events
Collect and donate the items (clothing, toys, school supplies, food) that are most needed by children and their communities
Provide assistance and resources that enable communities to develop and self-sustain
Awareness:

Raise awareness on current events, social developments and political landscapes which affect children
Partner with other artists, celebrities, brands and charitable organizations to draw attention to the needs of the communities in need of donations
Research the most accurate and unbiased information to the media and public
Share U.R.G.E.'s stories of success through photos, stories and letters
Efforts

The Chepstow Basic School in Portland, Jamaica has been working with U.R.G.E. since 2008, constantly improving its different areas. Over the years, financial and humanitarian assistance has been aided. Some examples include: financial support for teacher salaries, construction of music rooms and playgrounds, donation of musical instruments and bicycles and the hosting of health and dental clinics. U.R.G.E. frequently posts updates in their website about current and past projects with Chepstow.
Aided with tuition assistance for the Promise Learning Center, a special education institution in Kingston, Jamaica. It provides academic, technical and social training for children with Autism and other learning disabilities.
Provided financial aid to Robert Gordon, a top student from Richmond Park Preparatory School in Kingston, Jamaica.
Donated books and toys to Glenhope Nursery in Kingston, Jamaica. Glenhope Nursery is a shelter for abandoned, abused, neglected, orphaned or disabled babies and toddlers.
Aided Belvedere Middle School student Kimberly Vargas in participating in the LA Swish basketball program.
Donated funds for a pacemaker for a surgery in Jamaica.
Donated equipment (including laryngoscope sets) to the surgical ward and burnt unit at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica.
Donated toys to SOS Children's Villages International orphanage in Brazil.
Sponsored a free dental clinic in Jamaica alongside HealthCare International. Over the span of a week, free checkups and dental care were offered to more than 200 students and local residents. Dental products such as toothbrushes and toothpaste were also given free of charge. Dr. Eli Davidyan was the lead dentist involved in the clinic.
Marley appeared alongside his family on UGG's Holiday Campaign and donated US$50,000 to U.R.G.E and HOLA.
Teamed up with Jamaican institutions "BossMom" and "Food for the Poor" (FFTP) to help with BossMom's program "BossMom Builds", which helps build homes for women in Jamaica, providing all the basic necessities such as water, appliances and sustainable energy sources.
Marley also donates to U.R.G.E. a portion of proceeds from sales and streams of his albums Family Time×Family Time5 May 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Family Time4:202I Love You Too3:333Cry, Cry, Cry4:434Take Me to Jamaica3:185Ziggy Says3:516This Train3:387Wings of an Eagle4:178ABC4:019Hold Em Joe3:3610Walk Tall3:1611Future Man, Future Lady3:3712My Helping Hands0:5413Is There Really a Human Race2:31 and More Family Time×More Family Time18 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Play with Sky2:332Everywhere You Go3:113Music Is in Everything3:254Move Your Body3:495Jambo4:196Please Excuse Me Thank You2:517Garden Song of Miracles3:118Goo Goo Ga Ga3:139My Dog Romeo2:4610Wonderful People3:48. He also donates a dollar of every ticket sale he makes to U.R.G.E.

Other philanthropic works

Disney included Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers' song "Give A Little Love" to their 1991 charity album "For Our Children". All the proceeds were donated to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
In 2007, Marley signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and free lessons to children in public schools throughout the United States. He has visited with children in the program and sits on the organization's board of directors as an honorary member.
In 2008, Marley joined forces with H&M and other celebrities for the "Fashion Against AIDS" collaboration. This collaboration served as a means to raise awareness about HIV. Marley designed a T-shirt with "Love is my Religion×Love Is My Religion7 February 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Into the Groove4:162Love Is My Religion3:473Make Some Music4:184Friend2:535Black Cat2:416Beach in Hawaii3:447A Lifetime4:468Be Free3:199Keep On Dreaming4:2010Still the Storms5:3211Love Is My Religion (acoustic)3:5712Be Free (dub)4:04" written on it (the title of his then-latest record), in the traditional Rastafarian colors (green, gold and red).
In 2011, Marley lent his voice and likeness to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine for a print ad campaign to promote healthy vegetarian living.
In 2012, Marley recorded a special version of "Personal Revolution" from his 2011 album Wild and Free×Wild and Free14 June 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Wild and Free4:492Forward to Love3:413It4:374Changes4:065Personal Revolution4:546Get Out of Town4:347Roads Less Traveled4:028Mmmm Mmmm3:309Welcome to the World4:1210A Sign3:2011Reggae in My Head3:5412Elizabeth4:15 for the Rotary International "End Polio Now" compilation album. All the proceeds went towards Rotary's campaign to help end Polio. Marley is a collaborator with Rotary to this day, using his social media platforms to help raise awareness about the ongoing efforts to eradicate Polio around the world.
In 2015, Marley performed a benefit concert for John Varvatos's annual Stuart House fundraiser for the UCLA Rape Treatment Center program. More than US$950,000 was raised during the event.
In 2017, Marley partnered with the Heart of Los Angeles, a non-profit organization dedicated to giving greater opportunities to the less fortunate youth. He also performed and met with the children at HOLA's 25th Anniversary Celebration.
In 2019, Marley headlined the L.A. location of the World's Biggest Sleepout at the Hollywood Bowl, an event organized globally by CEO Sleepout UK to combat homelessness and poverty.
Also in 2019, Marley took part in Kidspace Children's Museum's 2019 Summer Kids Food Festival, aimed to teach children about the benefits of balanced food choices and environmentally-focused eating habits.
In that same year, Marley was honored by the Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) in their 2nd annual Ambassadors of Peace Gala in Los Angeles. CCFP works to bridge the power of music and bringing people together. In the event, Marley expressed his connection with the Israeli population and spread his message of love and peace.
Marley was an outspoken advocate for saving the iguanas of the Jamaican Goat Islands, working with the International Iguana Foundation and taking part in a California Science Center exhibit to raise awareness for the cause.
In 2021, Marley participated in a performance for National Geographic's virtual Earth Day Celebration and discussed climate and environmental issues facing our planet. "We're making art to make a change and challenge the status quo. We need more art like that in this time. We need more music like that. We need more artists like that. So I am just happy that we are using art in that way."
Also in 2021, Marley recorded an acoustic version of his song "Shalom Salaam" from his 2003 album Dragonfly×Dragonfly15 April 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Dragonfly4:142True to Myself3:473I Get Out4:164Looking3:205Shalom Salaam5:076In the Name of God5:367Rainbow in the Sky3:068Melancholy Mood4:329Good Old Days4:1710Never Deny You4:0411DYKL (Don’t You Kill Love)3:47 alongside the Jerusalem Youth Chorus to raise awareness and promote peaceful environments between the Israeli and Palestinian communities. "The chorus empowers youth from East & West Jerusalem with the responsibility to speak and sing their truths as they become leaders in their communities and inspire singers and listeners around the world to work for peace, justice, inclusion, and equality."

Public appearances

Marley and his daughter Judah made an appearance in the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Albums with the Melody Makers

1985: Play the Game Right
1986: Hey World!
1988: Conscious Party
1989: One Bright Day
1991: Jahmekya
1993: Joy and Blues
1995: Free Like We Want 2 B
1997: Fallen Is Babylon
1999: The Spirit of Music
2000: Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers Live, Vol. 1

Solo albums

2003: Dragonfly
2006: Love Is My Religion
2009: Family Time
2011: Wild and Free
2014: Fly Rasta
2016: Ziggy Marley
2018: Rebellion Rises
2020: More Family Time
2026: Brightside

Live albums

2008: Love Is My Religion Live
2009: Ziggy Live From Soho
2013: Ziggy Marley in Concert
2017: We are the People Tour

Grammy Awards

Ziggy has won eight awards from fifteen nominations.