21 MAY 30-JUNE 5, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | In the history of popular music, very few names carry as much weight as that of Bob Marley. The singer, songwriter and gui- tarist was a giant who helped popularize reggae and meld its groove-laden style with socially conscious lyricism. Sadly, he died of cancer in 1981, at the young age of 36. But his legacy lives on, not just ............................. ence, but in his cultural impact, carried on in part by his family. Two of his sons, Damian and Stephen, are teaming up for a special summer concert in Colorado. Damian and Stephen Marley will perform together at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Fri- day, June 28, with the Colo- rado Symphony and special guest Burning Spear! ................................ rado Symphony will be part of a reggae show at Red Rocks. Surprisingly, Bob Marley never played at Red Rocks. But the Marley Brothers, including Stephen and Damian, are no strangers to the iconic amphitheater. They’ve performed in various combinations at Red Rocks a handful of times over the years, including with a third Marley brother, Ziggy, in 2023. Stephen, born in 1972 and known as “Ragga” to family and friends, ............................ musician, producer and en- trepreneur in his own right who’s known for bending styles beyond genre boundaries with his original music, garnering eight Grammy Awards over the years. Bob Marley’s youngest son, Damian, or “Jr. Gong,” was born in 1978 and is a pop- ular reggae star and Grammy winner himself. Together the brothers will represent the Mar- ley family legacy at Red Rocks ......................... This special show will add the layered textures of the orches- tra to the Marleys’ roots reg- gae. The Colorado Symphony performs every summer at Red Rocks in inspiring collabora- tions with such diverse stars as Amos Lee and Sarah McLach- lan, the Moody Blues and Wu- Tang Clan. The swirling sounds of the symphony embrace the artists on stage and add atmo- spheric artistry to performanc- es with intricate orchestration weaving through the songs. Working with Stephen and Da- mian, the Colorado Symphony will add an extra-special touch to this night of reggae on the Rocks. The Marley family cultural legacy was rekindled on Feb- ruary 14 — Valentine’s Day — this year with the theatri- cal release of One Love, the dramatic based-on-a-true-story retelling of Bob Marley’s rise to stardom, his embrace of social justice and his focus on peace and spirituality. ............................ spread beyond his music, and he did much to promote Rastafarianism, the religion and cultural movement that empha- sizes pride in Jamaica’s African roots. Along with his spiri- tual message, Marley pushed against racism and for decolo- nization and uplifting the op- pressed through his music and persona. It’s hard to know how Bob Mar- ley’s music would have evolved .................................. career. But the world is fortu- nate to have the talents of his family, including Stephen and Damian, on the road to keep his legacy alive and deliver his musical message to the world. The June 28 performance with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks will be an unforgettable cultural celebration! LIVE MUSIC ADVERTORIAL DAMIAN AND STEPHEN MARLEY KEEP THEIR FATHER’S LEGACY ALIVE
