Damian Marley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Damian Marley
Marley performing in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Damian Robert Nesta Marley
Also known as	Jr. Gong
Born	(1978-07-21) 21 July 1978 (age 47) Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae reggae fusion hip hop dancehall
Occupation(s)	Deejay singer songwriter
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Tuff Gong Ghetto Youth International Motown Republic
Associated acts	SuperHeavy Nas Skrillex Stephen Marley Skip Marley

Damian Robert Nesta “Jr. Gong” Marley (born 21 July 1978) is a famous reggae musician from Jamaica. He is the youngest son of the legendary reggae singer Bob Marley. Damian has won four Grammy Awards for his music.

Early Life and Family Connections

Damian Marley is the youngest son of the famous reggae singer Bob Marley. His mother is Cindy Breakspeare, a jazz singer from Jamaica who was also crowned Miss World in 1976.

When Damian was born, his father Bob Marley wanted to change his name. Bob felt the name "Damian" was not suitable for a Rastafari person. Damian was only two years old when his father passed away. His nickname, "Junior Gong," comes from his father's own nickname, "Tuff Gong."

Damian Marley's Music Career

Starting Out in Music (1992–2004)

Damian Marley began his music journey at a young age. When he was 13, he formed a music group called The Shephards. This group even performed at the 1992 Reggae Sunsplash festival.

After the band broke up, Damian started his solo career. His first album, Mr. Marley, came out in 1996. People were surprised because Damian was a deejay (someone who talks or chants over music) instead of just singing like his father.

In 2001, Damian released his second album, Halfway Tree. The name "Halfway Tree" has a special meaning. It shows that Damian connects two different worlds. His mother came from a wealthy part of town, and his father came from a poorer area. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2002. His brother, Stephen Marley, helped produce this album.

Breakthrough with Welcome to Jamrock (2005)

Marley performing in 2007

Damian's third album, Welcome to Jamrock, was released in 2005. It sold many copies and became very popular. The album was certified gold, meaning it sold over 500,000 copies in the United States.

The main song, "Welcome to Jamrock", became a huge hit. It talked about real-life issues and challenges in Jamaica. Many people praised the song for its honest message. A professor from the University of the West Indies said the song reminded people to look at the life they are living. The song reached high spots on music charts in the UK and US.

Other popular songs from this album include "The Master Has Come Back" and "Road to Zion", which featured the rapper Nas.

Collaborations and Distant Relatives (2006–2010)

Nas and Marley performing in Wellington, New Zealand, 2011

In 2006, Damian Marley made history at the Grammy Awards. He won two Grammys on the same night: Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for Welcome to Jamrock. He is the only reggae artist to win in the Urban/Alternative category.

In 2010, Damian released a special album called Distant Relatives with American rapper Nas. The album's title shows the connection between the artists and their shared African heritage. They wanted the album to help build schools in Congo and promote empowerment.

Distant Relatives blended hip hop and reggae music. It also used sounds from African music. The songs on the album often talked about Africa, family history, and social issues in both the United States and Africa. The album was very successful, reaching number five on the US Billboard 200 chart.

New Projects and SuperHeavy (2011–2015)

Damian Marley joined a supergroup called SuperHeavy in 2011. This band included Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones, Dave Stewart from Eurythmics, Indian musician A. R. Rahman, and singer Joss Stone. They wanted to mix different music styles, including rock, reggae, and Indian music.

Their first song, "Miracle Worker", was released in 2011. It was a reggae song featuring Damian, Joss Stone, and Mick Jagger. Another song, "Satyameva Jayathe", had Mick Jagger singing in Sanskrit.

Damian also worked with electronic artist Skrillex on the song "Make It Bun Dem" in 2012. This song was even featured in the video game Far Cry 3.

Recent Album Stony Hill (2017–Present)

Marley performing in 2015

Damian Marley released his fourth solo album, Stony Hill, in July 2017. The album's first song was "Nail Pon Cross". Stony Hill also won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

Musical Style and Influences

Damian Marley describes his music as a mix of dancehall and reggae. He sees them as part of the same Jamaican culture. He doesn't try to separate them.

His album Distant Relatives with Nas combined hip hop and reggae. They also used sounds from African music. The songs on this album often focused on themes about Africa, like ancestry and challenges. They also included comments on society in the United States and Africa.

Discography

Studio Albums

Collaborative Releases

Singles

Other Charted Songs

See also

In Spanish: Damian Marley para niños