Ziggy Marley Reflects on Family, Music and Bob Marley’s Legacy

Recording artist David “Ziggy” Marley, 57, is the oldest son of Bob Marley, the music apostle who popularized reggae (and Rastafarianism) across the globe, and singer Rita Marley, whose group, the Soulettes, was hired to sing backup for young Bob’s band, the Wailers. 

Ziggy, who grew up in Jamaica, likes to stay busy. In addition to his recording career, which began in 1979 (he is a nine-time Grammy winner), he has written children’s books and a cookbook, appeared on TV (Charmed, Family Matters) and in films (the voice of Lenny in Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse), and was a producer of Bob Marley: One Love, the BET Award-winning 2024 Hollywood film about his father­, who died of cancer when Ziggy was 12. 

Ziggy is the father of seven children, several of whom are also musicians, and lives in L.A. with his wife, former talent agent Orly Agai. His manner as we chat is philosophical but also festive: In 1988, he and the Melody Makers released the album Conscious Party, which is a pretty good summary of his worldview. His new album, Brightside — which combines reggae, rock, funk and the blues — also aptly channels his demeanor, which leans toward sunny and playful as we talk about life, love and work.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

His first performance? Opening for a music legend

It was as the Melody Makers — me, my brother Stephen, and my sisters Cedella and Sharon — in a concert in Jamaica that also had my father on the bill, for the International Year of the Child in 1979. Like a lot of things in my life, I didn’t really see the importance of that until after the fact. We just opened our mouths and expressed ourselves. When I look back, it’s kind of incredible that the first show I did was a concert with Bob Marley.

“I have love songs and songs about fun, but there’s always a message in there.” Marley, photographed by AARP, at his recording studio in North Hollywood in March 2026.

Photograph by Joe Pugliese

They didn’t have an indoor toilet or a lot to eat

Bob Marley wasn’t Bob Marley then. We didn’t have money, but we gave thanks because we weren’t starving. I remember looking for something to eat — I found a loaf of bread, a tomato and some sugar. I made a sandwich, and it was the best sandwich I’d ever had. We played in the dirt, barefoot, used a toilet outside, no running water. I had no idea of any other life. Our spiritual belief is that if money is to come, it will come. But we’re not living to make money. We’re living to be good human beings. I’m not going to change for money.

His dad taught him by example, not by lecturing …

My father would bring me around the big-men stuff, and I’d hear what they were talking about, how they were being, playing sports or doing music or the religious thing. I picked up all that as a child, not by him or my mom sitting down and saying, “Here’s our wisdom.” We lived in the wisdom. The discipline and work ethic, the purpose behind the music, being helpful to other people — I saw all that within my family. That’s how I try to teach my kids, too, by example.