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With some help from Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson and Paul Simon, Marley turns his attention to kids
Jennifer Odell
MSN Entertainment
Perhaps more than any of his siblings, Ziggy Marley's recording career has been marked by a focus on family. As a child, Ziggy often joined his legendary father Bob onstage. As a young adult, he led his sisters and brothers in the award-winning group The Melody Makers. When he's not recording or touring, much of his energy goes into work for his charity U.R.G.E., which supports education and other children's needs in Jamaica.
Now, he's expanded his focus on family and kids to his music. His latest album, "Family Time," is technically a record for kids. But the messages in the music -- expressions of hope, self-confidence, mutual understanding -- are ideas that anyone can relate to.
"This record is something kids can grow into," Marley said a few weeks before performing some of the new material at the White House's annual Easter Egg Roll in April. "It has good, strong messages that kids can go have fun to, and there's something in it that will translate to everyone."
By calling on contributions from Jack Johnson, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, producer Don Was and others, Marley also extends the range of musical influences beyond traditional reggae. On one track, Jamie Lee Curtis narrates a Marley-penned story about helping out your neighbor. On another, Nelson's earthy alto brings a blues vibe into the mix.
Speaking from his agent's office in Los Angeles this spring, Marley discussed his wide-ranging choices of guest artists, his inspiration for the new music and why the future of our culture depends on a greater investment in our youth.
MSN: Why did you want to do a kids album and why now?
Ziggy Marley: Last year after I finished touring the last record it was time to consider what's next. It wasn't the first option that came to my mind, focusing on children, but then I've been involved in so many kids stuff it kept kinda peeking around the corner, a record where my mindset would be focused on kids.
It was a revelation that it was a good idea because I struggle with my music being music with a message and to change the world through music. Then I was certain this was the right thing to do. The greatest thing I could do would be singing to kids in that endeavor to affect the world. Kids have open minds, and if we can inspire them -- not teach, but inspire them -- then it will affect them in positive ways. And the younger we can start, the better. This is my effort to speak to the children. It was fun and I'm happy with it. The message is about talking to them, not belittling their intelligence. Kids today are more aware than I was when I was a kid. They're so much smarter than I was.
Your co-stars on this album include Paul Simon, Jack Johnson and Willie Nelson. How did you choose the artists?
I love Willie. The people on this record are people that I love. That's the only reason why they're on it. It's a heartfelt decision [to involve them]. Willie is a grandfather to me in terms of how I think about him and his music. I don't know him that well personally, but on another level I do, on a spiritual side of things he's one of my grandfathers. It was exciting.
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