Ky-Mani Marley

Ky-Mani Ronald Marley was born on February 26, 1976, in Falmouth, Jamaica, to Anita Belnavis and reggae icon Bob Marley. At the age of five, Marley’s father passed away, and at nine, he and his mother relocated to Miami, Florida. During his early youth, Marley actively participated in sports, including soccer and American football. He also received piano and guitar lessons and played the trumpet in his high school band, laying the groundwork for his future musical pursuits.

While a teenager, Ky-Mani Marley began rapping and deejaying. His debut single was “Unnecessary Badness.” He was inspired to pursue singing after being asked to contribute a hook to a song during a Miami recording session. This led to collaborations with his brothers Stephen, Julian, and Damian. In 1996, Marley signed with Shang Records, releasing his debut album, “Like Father Like Son.” This period also saw the release of several singles, including “Judge Not” with Patra, and “Dear Dad,” which achieved success on the British reggae charts. In 1997, he collaborated with Refugee Camp All-Stars and Pras of the Fugees on “Avenues,” a cover of Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue.” That same year, he signed with Gee Street/V2 Records and collaborated with P.M. Dawn on “Gotta Be Movin’ On Up.”

Marley’s career continued with the release of “The Journey” in 2000, followed by his third studio album, “Many More Roads,” in 2001, which earned a Grammy Award nomination. He released “Milestone” in 2004, and “Radio” in 2007. In 2007, he also toured as an opening act for Van Halen. His 2015 album, “Maestro,” further contributed to his discography. In 2018, Marley launched The Maestro Marley Cup, a festival combining his passions for soccer and music. He is also dedicated to his youth soccer program, Falmouth United, in Jamaica. His acting credits include lead roles in the Jamaican films “Shottas” and “One Love.”