Star-Bulletin
Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley, left, and brother Julian.
Gong Show
Bob Marley's youngest son,
By John Berger
'Jr. Gong,' keeps his dad's vision alive
Special to the Star-BulletinSibling rivalry isn't in the equation for Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley, youngest son of the reggae superstar and rastafarian nationalist. Indeed, he says he can't imagine doing anything but play music and honor His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie Jah Rastafari in concert with other members of the family. "We live as our father lived, and whenever we can have a show together, that's when we're the happiest," the artist explained in a telephone interview this week. He and his brother, Julian, fly from Jamaica for a concert with Wailing Souls at the Waikiki Shell Saturday.
"We give great thanks definitely (that) Hawaii has been one of the warmest places to us so far, in terms of response of people to the music," Marley said.
He has toured North America twice, played Brazil and toured Europe. He hopes to visit Ethiopia -- "our original home" -- this summer.
While in Hawaii, Marley says he hopes to get in some soccer, one of his favorite non-musical activities. He also wants to explore Hawaiian music, although his main exposure to it thus far has been hearing "Mele Kalikimaka" in a prep school play.
The Marley double bill is but one facet of the supportive relationship between Bob Marley's children. Damien and and Julian are celebrating the release of solo albums: Damien's "Mr. Marley" and Julian's "Lion in the Morning." Work on both was overseen by their older brother, Stephen of the Grammy-winning family quartet, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers (Ziggy, and sisters Cedella and Sharon, contributed their talents as well).
Jr. Gong's commitment to his father's vision is clear: "There's only music. Whatever I'll do, it'll have to do with music."
One Love
Reggae Jam DownFeaturing:Damien (above) and Julian Marley
