MARLEY... laid claim to the Reggae Grammy for his album Mind Control

Stephen Marley, the second son of Bob Marley, yesterday laid claim to the Reggae Grammy for his album Mind Control.

Nominations in the category Best Reggae Album included The Burning Spear Experience - Burning Spear; Mind Control - Stephen Marley; The End Of An American Dream - Lee 'Scratch' Perry; Anniversary - Sly & Robbie And The Taxi Gang and Light Your Light - Toots & The Maytals.

This year's nominees are all previous Grammy winners, with Stephen topping the list with a total of five awards.

Many persons felt that this could be Stephen's year to cop an award which has been dominated by the Marley family with brother Ziggy winning last year (2006) for Love Is My Religion, his second solo album. Younger brother Damian took home two Grammys the year before (2005) for Welcome to Jamrock, one in the Best Reggae Album category and for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. In 2001, Damion won the Reggae Grammy for the album Halfway Tree. The Melody Makers have claimed a total of three.

It was in 1979 that Stephen made his official debut when The Melody Makers (group with his siblings) cut their first single, Children Playing in the Streets and followed it up in 1985 with their debut LP, Play the Game Right. Over the next decade, the group would follow in their father's footsteps, racking up Grammy awards and bringing conscious songs and one-love rhythms to every corner of the globe.

With Mind Control, Stephen stepped to centrestage for the first time in his 27-year career. Appropriately, Mind Control is all Stephen and a cornucopia of the sounds and styles that he loves: a blend of reggae, rock, R&B, nyabinghi rhythms, flamenco and hip-hop.

Featuring cameos from roots-rock star Ben Harper, hip-hop hero Mos Def and younger brother Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley, it's a collection of songs that range from conscious critiques of society (Mind Control) and politics (Chase Dem), to the sweet and open-hearted (Hey Baby), to the simple and fun (the sexy, club-rocking, Latin-tinged grinder Let Her Dance, which features Maya Azucena & Illestr8).

In addition to recording his debut album, Stephen has been hunkered down in the studio serving as the secret weapon behind both of Damian's past two Grammy winners as well as behind the Ghetto Youths International and Tuff Gong imprints. Stephen's production skills can also be heard on albums by Buju Banton, brothers Julian and Ziggy, Spearhead, Eve, Erykah Badu, Capleton and Mr Cheeks.
He's performed as a vocalist, percussionist or guitarist on albums by all the above, as well as albums by Eric Clapton and others.

Stephen will be performing at the Africa Unite: Smile Jamaica concert set for Saturday February 23 at the James Bond Beach.

Attempts to reach Stephen last night were unsuccessful even though he was reportedly in the island as he had not attended the ceremony at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, CA.

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