Reggae X: Ziggy Marley’s Tribute to the Legends at the Hollywood Bowl
Presented by Tuff Gong Worldwide and KCRW
Words: Velissa Robinson
Los Angeles, CA - The LA weather was invitingly warm on July 31, 2011. The Hollywood Bowl was alive. Busses were still pulling in, fans still climbing the hill, and TV cameras were all over covering what was happening on the stage. People were upbeat and packed down with everything they thought they would need for the evening, from sandwiches and cold beer to cheeses and warm wine. Incense was in the air and it’s white clouds hung in whiffs between the bodies. Before the sunlight went dim, the concert’s host, KCRW’s Jeremy Sole, introduced himself and the night’s first performers, Ras Michael and the Sons and Daughters of Negus.
The legendary Ras Michael, whose music is built on the foundation of Count Ossie’s Rastafari drumming, took the vibe to another level. As the sun slowly set and the audience began to settle, Ras Michael brought us into his world with the layered echo-ness of his music. The guitars, keyboards, bass, and horns danced slightly above his voice; it was officially Reggae Night X at the Hollywood Bowl.
San Francisco, CA - South Africa-based Nkulee Dube delighted Californians in Santa Cruz, San Francisco and Berkeley during July, on what was her first U.S. tour. She was ably supported by her own wonderful band. Many who came to see the 26-year-old singer/songwriter were curious about the great Lucky Dube’s daughter. She did not disappoint.
Nkulee possess a strong voice with a natural beautiful melodic tone. She has managed to fuse ethno-soul and jazz with ethno-ragga in a true African stylee. She’s charismatic and joyous, with a command of the stage far beyond her age and experience. Like her father, Nkulee danced with members of the band. But, unlike Lucky, she also invited the audience on stage to show off their own moves.
Miami, FL -Julian Ricardo Marley, a seasoned roots Reggae performer, is a multi-talented musician, writer, and singer. Born on June 4, 1975, in London, Julian is the only British-born Marley son. He spent summers with his extended family in Kingston, tuned in to Rastafari, and became immersed in the Marley’s musical environment. A self-taught musician, Julian is skilled at guitar, drums, bass, and keyboards. Since the 1996 release of his debut CD entitled Lion in the Morning, Julian “JuJu” Marley has traveled the world extensively to perform alongside his talented brothers. The 2003 CD Time and Place, and 2009’s Awake, have resulted in a large legion of loyal fans that attend his solo performances. At the invitation of the Jamaican government, Julian Marley and the Uprising band represented his adopted country and performed at the historic 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Tiger, the award-winning DJ sensation who pounced on the music scene in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, was recently in South Florida for a one-off performance with the groundbreaking Shabba Ranks. The Fifth Annual Flash Back Nights was held at Ft. Lauderdale’s Revolution Live on July 2, 2011, and the sold out crowd welcomed the two icons with open arms.
I made my way to Tiger’s room, looking forward to seeing my pal from back in the day. Tiger, a regular Reggae Report item, was one of a handful of artists who stepped up to perform at the magazine’s fundraising Sampler Show in 1991. His talent, humor, spirit, and generosity were inspiring and not forgotten. I had not seen Tiger since the horrible motorcycle accident in December 1993 that forced the “cat” into seclusion and a long period of recuperation. Excited at hearing he was back on the prowl, it became my goal to catch up with the tenacious Tiger.
Arriving back from a grueling tour of Australia, Brazil, Thailand, Senegal, New Zealand, and Vanuatu in the Pacific Islands, Reggae Report’s MPeggyQ caught up with actor, author, humanitarian—and not to mention Grammy-nominated Reggae artist—Ky-mani Marley backstage at Miami’s Nine Mile Reggae Fest, March 12, 2011 for a fas' chat.
News/Reviews 
