Reggae legend Robert Nesta Marley is being hailed in education circles as worthy of being immortalized with honor and on Sept. 1 when students return to his old Stepney Primary and Junior High School, the name of the music icon will be prominent.
The St. Ann, yellow, brick building will be renamed the Bob Marley Primary and JHS.
Sandrea Falconer, Jamaica’s minister of information, made the disclosure at the office of the Prime Minister on June 13 after receiving approval from the.
The school enrolls 300 students aged six to 15 years of age. And will be the center-piece of the tiny, parish enclave when school starts in the fall.
“The change in name is a tribute to the late Robert Nesta Marley, a past student,” Falconer said. “Members of the community and the Bob Marley Foundation have also endorsed the name change.”
Throughout the years, Tuff Gong Records and its affiliates have actively supported many aspects of the school’s activities as well as individual students.
The minister said the Bob Marley Foundation has been very active in the school through the granting of scholarships and resource materials.
AND THE EMMY GOES TO… “ZIGGY MARLEY”
As if Bob Marley’s eldest son hadn’t already reaped his share of reggae honors in the music industry, David Ziggy Marley collected one that probably eludes a great many veteran recorders by winning television’s highest honor – an Emmy Award.
Added to his long list of accomplishments, Ziggy now boasts an Emmy for his song “I Love You Too!”
The four-time Grammy winner scored a victory from the Disney Channel’s animation “3rd and Bird” at the Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Awards in Los Angeles, California.
“I didn’t even know I was nominated,” the 44-year-old musician said.
“When somebody mentioned to me that I won an Emmy, I was like ‘what’s that?”
“It’s not like the Grammys when you know you are nominated and there is a lot of buzz around that… so I never expected it, but it feels good.”
Marley said he agreed to contribute music for the television show soon after he had completed his children’s album “Family Time.”
Released in 2009, that CD won a Grammy in the Best Musical Album for Children category.
“For the Emmy to acknowledge and recognize us in this form is something new for us, and is definitely a step forward,” Marley said.
The songwriter/singer/musician followed in his father’s footsteps when he was a mere teenager. Helming his own recording group – Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – he and his siblings Steve, Sharon and Cedella signed long-term deals with major record labels and immediately scored gains winning top chart positions, radio airplay and the ultimate win with numerous Grammy awards.
Together they appeared on many television talk shows and spoke directly to young audiences by appearing on “Sesame Street.”
Ziggy in his solo capacity has performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the White House and also voiced a character for the animated movie “Shark Tale.”
Catch You On The Inside!
