"Mr. Marley"Jr. Gong's debut LP on the Tuff Gong International label is now available in stores, featuring the hit singles: Searching (So Much Bubble)
Being the Youngest son of the reggae king, Bob 'The Tuff Gong' Marley, the name "Jr. Gong" is a symbol of Damian's deep understanding of his musical inheritance and indicates his commitment to the standards of excellence that were the hallmark of his father's career. Junior Gong's most recent shows have been in combination with his brother Julian. Their performances on Sunsplash '95, Sumfest '95 and The 1996 Bob Marley Day Festival in Central Park left fans with a desire to see much more of "the youngest Marley". Having released a number of singles including "D.J. Degree", "Sexy Girls Pon Mi Mind", and his latest "Ten Thousand Chariots" (A combination with brother Steven Marley of the Melody Makers), Jr. Gong's career has led him on tours to Canada, The United States, parts of the Caribbean as well as Central and South America. "I learned to juggle music and school pretty quickly", grins the recent Hillel Academy graduate, adding determinedly "Eventually, I'd like to 'deal' with some engineering and producing as well as all other aspects of the music business". Although he lives with his mother, Damian has always spent holidays and any spare time available with his brothers and sisters in the Marley home. "With my fathers and brothers as role models, it wasn't hard to identify myself as a Rasta," the youth admits, "so right now I'm learning it while I'm living it". Bob Marley conquered the world with roots, rock and reggae. The legend continues with his youngest son Jr. Gong, who's stellar deejaying skills are sure to bring the world to his feet. |
Jr. Gong's debut album, Mr. Marley
features the inventive production skills of brother Steven Marley and
is one of the first productions conceived by Ghetto Youths International,
the production label founded by both Ziggy and Steven. The album, released
in September 1996, draws the attention of a strong reggae massive, as well
as the followers of urban hip-hop culture. Mr. Marley displays Jr. Gong's
unique deejaying style and roots "riddims" - a combination of
old school and new school bridging the gaps and breaking down the barriers.
Recorded in the forty-eight track Marley Music studio at Hope Road in Kingston,
Jamaica, the album's rhythm section consists of reggae music's talented
influences like Sly Dunbar, Owen Reid and Wilburn Cole. Symbolic of a powerful
union of traditional African percussion rhythms and dancehall, with a seasoning
of fierce R&B close cutting grooves, Mr. Marley features tracks such
as "Searching (So Much Bubble)", the first track and video to
be released from the album describing a young man's search for pure and
honest love, "Trouble" and "Kingston 12", (two 90's
styled remakes of Bob Marley's "So Much Trouble" and "Trenchtown
Rock"), a vital, rhythmic "Love and Inity", as well as the
hard-core, pulsating dub sounds of "Ten Thousand Chariots" and
"Old War Chant".
Born Damian Robert Nesta Marley in
1978 to former Ms. World, Cindy Breakspear, he began performing at a tender
age. "I don't know when I first began performing, I can't remember
ever not performing", states the young Gong. At first there were shows
staged in the living room of his mother's close friend Dona Coore, where
he and Shiah ( son of Third World guitarist Cat Coore) would entertain
their mothers and friends. Dancehall had been an integral part of his musical
experience and by the time Damian was 9 years old, his intrinsic talent
for Deejaying had grown immensely. He and Shiah had formed the group "The
Shepherds" and were performing before performing audiences at venues such
as the Wyndham Hotel. It wasn't long before they were elevated to popular
stage shows like the '92 Sunsplash Bob Marley Tribute (along with 