In the earliest known record of his musical career, David Marley performed as part of a singing group called The Seven Do Bees, made up of him and his classmates.
He was given the stage name of “Freddie Dic,” but that moniker never stuck.
Instead David went on to become known as Ziggy, a nickname given to him by his legendary father Bob Marley, meaning ‘little spliff.’
In a1988 article in Melody Maker Magazine, Ziggy explained the name change this way: “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.”
Now, more than 25 years later, Ziggy Marley has created his own raggae musical legacy, one outside of the formidable music shadow left by his father, and one that includes Grammy Awards and top selling albums.
Marley will be coming to Kelowna to perform from his extensive personal catalogue of music Friday, Oct. 14, at Kelowna Community Theatre. Tickets will go on sale June 27, available through Select Your Tickets, 1223 Water St., by phone 250-762-5050 or online at selectyourtickets.com.
One of Marley’s musical incarnations was as a member of Melody Makers along with his siblings Sharon and Ced.
Their recording debut was a song written for them by their father, called Children Playing In The Streets.
All royalties from that single were pledged to the United Nations, to aid its efforts during the International Year of the Child.
The Melody Makers released eight best-selling albums that garnered three Grammys.
A six-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, humanitarian, singer, songwriter and producer, Marley has released 12 albums.
His early immersion in music came at age 10 when he sat in on recording sessions with his father as the oldest of the Marley family siblings.
