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Stephen Marley, the producer


- File

Stephen Marley (second left) with other members of the Melody Makers, Cedella (left) Ziggy (second right) and Sharon.

THE AURA inside the Marley Music Studio located at the Bob Marley Museum, Hope Road, Kingston, screams reggae music. When a session is in progress, the aroma of burning ganja rivals the pounding basslines as the dominant element. With the young, dreadlocks Marleys getting their grooves on, as hopeful Rastafarian artistes look on, it elucidates the magic which is reggae and the mystique which surrounds its creation.

Stephen Marley's real passion is production. In the studio, he is a master, fully in control. However, he allows creative energies to flow and the suggestions which come from his younger brothers, Julian and Damian, are almost always accepted. He's doing lots of production work at the moment. There is a Julian Marley album in the works as well as a Junior Gong album. In addition, he's working on numerous singles with members of his Ghetto Youths United crew, a group of talented youngsters he's aiming to take to the top.

"When we're in the studio everyone is interdependent. The ideas come from all around. I'm just like a big brother here who's able to facilitate and transform the ideas," he said.

Much of the material Stephen works on carries the signature roots reggae trademarks; a rubber stamp of the kind of music his father made. Still, he extends himself to dancehall creations, especially in the work he does with Junior Gong and the Ghetto Youths. Even so, there is an impressive infusion of various instruments to the basic dancehall beat.

"Whatever we create, we think about the international marketplace. We produce songs with a specific purpose in mind," he said.

Julian Marley's album Systems is due at the end of this summer and Junior Gong's, still untitled, second album is due later this year. Stephen said he would be shopping for international distribution deals for the albums. A great deal of work is being done with Yami Bolo. There is a single called Vanity which features the stirring guitar riffs of Wailers' musician Chinna Smith.

Bolo is also featured on Still Searching along with Junior Gong and Stephen. Stephen has also produced a track with his late father's colleague Bunny Wailer. "We and Bunny Wailer nice man. We love him so much," he said of the only surviving Wailer. Stephen Marley still resides in Jamaica, although some of his siblings live abroad.

"Sometimes I have to leave just to clear my head, depending on the stage the work is at. There are times when we are producing and we need certain instruments and equipment and we have to go where they are. Otherwise, I live here, where the vibes is," Stephen told Showbiz.

As for his triple Grammy-winning Melody Makers group, he said there are plans to release a live album soon.

Andrew Clunis

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