Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Ziggy Marley, increasing AIDS/HIV awareness


Ziggy Marley, the eldest son of the late reggae musician Bob Marley, is using his musical success and influence to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS, and he is also working to alleviate poverty and political strife in Africa.

Recently, H&M asked Marley to design a T-shirt for its Fashion Against AIDS campaign ( http://www.designersagainstaids.com/), which includes Rhianna, Good Charlotte and Rufus Wainwright. Marley's shirt is emblazoned with the phrase "Love Is My Religion" in the Rastafarian-inspired colors of red, green and gold. According to Ninette Murk, founder and director of Designers Against AIDS, Marley's was one of the top three best-selling shirts.

Marley has lent his support to a number of grassroots causes and his voice to the Jamaican jellyfish character in the 2004 animated film "A Shark's Tale." In 2005, Marley's dreadlocked image was featured in a series of ads for the Aldo Shoes Fight Against AIDS campaign.
"I like to involve myself in positive things, so this is something that is important to me," Marley said by phone from Los Angeles.

Born David Nesta Marley in Trenchtown, Jamaica, in 1968 to Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy released his first album, "Play the Game Right," with the Melody Makers - which includes his siblings Cedella, Sharon and Stephen Marley - in 1985. As one of the most popular touring acts on the reggae circuit, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers recorded 10 albums and received three Grammy Awards. In 2002, Marley released his first solo album, "Dragonfly," which introduced his eclectic style, combining roots reggae, jazz, African, alternative and R&B, which he calls Ziggymusic. Marley earned a 2006 Grammy for best reggae album for his second solo release, "Love Is My Religion."


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