Ziggy Marley Keeps The Bob Marley Legacy Alive In Crossroads KC
Ziggy Marley kept Bob Marley’s legacy alive with his show at the Crossroads KC in Kansas City on Wednesday, according to the music venue’s Twitter. Ziggy did his father’s name and musical heritage justice by delighting a crowd of over 1,500 fans, according to The Kansas City Star music blog. Crossroads KC is into its eighth year as a premier live music venue during the summer months, and the outdoor music venue offers a great night under the stars with “spectacular skylines” of Kansas City to audiences.
Marley, 45, was only 12 when Bob Marley died in 1981 of cancer, according to Biography. The reggae legend would have celebrated his 69th birthday this past February, reports The Inquisitr. It is no surprise then that 1 out of every 10 audience members at Ziggy Marley’s show honored his father by wearing t-shirts with the reggae icon’s image. Marley’s 90-minute concert was a huge success, with renditions of reggae classics and original songs. Ziggy is well-known for having a similar vocal sound to that of his famous dad’s own voice. The crowd provided Marley with a loud reception after his version of the famous Bob Marley tune “One Love,” but even his original music was well received, although not without some musical critique.
The Kansas City Star suggests that the first three songs on Marley’s set, “True to Myself,” “Love is My Religion,” and “Wild and Free” were a combination of poorly written lyrics with “wonderfully loping rhythms.” The last of the three, an ode to marijuana, resulted in an increase of smoke throughout the crowd.
The uncanny similarity in the voices of father and son helped make Ziggy’s renditions of “So Much Trouble in the World,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “One Love,” and “Iron Lion Zion” huge successes in the show. Accompanied by a nine-piece band and dance moves to liven up the audience, Marley covered songs and treated the crowd to some deep funk sounds, too. Showing his growth as a songwriter, Ziggy played selections from his new album, “Fly Rasta.”
Keeping the memory of Bob Marley alive takes energy and enthusiasm, and his son mixes great percussion work along with a diverse team of musicians, including his wife, Rita, and Dub Heezy, a DJ from St. Louis. Even a pair of children came to the stage to perform on percussion and keep things engaging for the crowd. For Ziggy Marley and those devoted to keeping Bob Marley’s memory alive, it’s important to share reggae music with the younger generations.
[Image courtesy of Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star]
