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Dear Dad
The Marley surname perpetuates Jamaican royalty, resonates from worldwide recognition and represents the pioneer of a cultural, political and social revolution.
In the near-thirty years since the death of the world’s greatest reggae-music icon, music lovers, truth seekers, and a new generation of social-activists alike have flocked to the musical catalog of Bob Marley like new believers on a pilgrimage for soul inspiration. Though Marley’s iconic life was cut short before his time, his legacy lives on as vibrantly as it did when he walked among us. This is not only true because of his timeless music, but because of the musical genius of the extraordinary children he left behind.
Born in Falmouth, Jamaica in 1976 as the tenth son of legendary reggae icon Bob Marley, Ky-Mani Marley discovered his musical talents late in life, rising to become an international music artist and film actor. Ky-Mani has not only written and performed songs of redemption around the world, like his famous father, but has lived and survived to recant his own personally redemptive story in the face of some very stark urban realities unbefitting any human, let alone a 'Marley.'
Dear Dad, is an arresting narrative of a son locked out of his iconic father’s shelter for the first half of his life and forced to survive the poverty-stricken, predator-infested streets of one of Miami’s most violent ghettos, Liberty City. Initially estranged from his siblings and cut off from any financial benefit of the Marley Estate, young Ky-Mani’s gritty ascent from a bullet-riddled life to the world stages he now commands as a Grammy-nominated recording artist are chronicled in this gripping biography.
Today a dedicated father and family man traveling to all corners of the world, performing no less than 100 shows per year, Marley knew he¹d reached a plateau of transformation in his life when he was named 'Philanthropist of the Year' by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Better World Awards.
His life is truly a 'redemption song.'
In the near-thirty years since the death of the world’s greatest reggae-music icon, music lovers, truth seekers, and a new generation of social-activists alike have flocked to the musical catalog of Bob Marley like new believers on a pilgrimage for soul inspiration. Though Marley’s iconic life was cut short before his time, his legacy lives on as vibrantly as it did when he walked among us. This is not only true because of his timeless music, but because of the musical genius of the extraordinary children he left behind.
Born in Falmouth, Jamaica in 1976 as the tenth son of legendary reggae icon Bob Marley, Ky-Mani Marley discovered his musical talents late in life, rising to become an international music artist and film actor. Ky-Mani has not only written and performed songs of redemption around the world, like his famous father, but has lived and survived to recant his own personally redemptive story in the face of some very stark urban realities unbefitting any human, let alone a 'Marley.'
Dear Dad, is an arresting narrative of a son locked out of his iconic father’s shelter for the first half of his life and forced to survive the poverty-stricken, predator-infested streets of one of Miami’s most violent ghettos, Liberty City. Initially estranged from his siblings and cut off from any financial benefit of the Marley Estate, young Ky-Mani’s gritty ascent from a bullet-riddled life to the world stages he now commands as a Grammy-nominated recording artist are chronicled in this gripping biography.
Today a dedicated father and family man traveling to all corners of the world, performing no less than 100 shows per year, Marley knew he¹d reached a plateau of transformation in his life when he was named 'Philanthropist of the Year' by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Better World Awards.
His life is truly a 'redemption song.'
- GenresNonfiction
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
7 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
KY-Mani Marley
6 books1 followerKy-Mani Marley is a world-renowned reggae musician, actor, and father. He is the founder of the LOAF, the Love All Over Foundation (www.loveoverall.org), dedicated to the educational development of youth by developing programs and distribution of grants that help promote positive change in low socioeconomic communities. Grants focus on education, music and sports and are distributed worldwide. In addition, Love for All focuses its attention to aid in the development of sickle cell and diabetes research. Ky-Mani was named Philanthropist of the Year by the Prince Albert II de Monaco Foundation, Better World Awards.
Growing up as a Marley isn't always easy. When Ky-Mani's father, musical icon Bob Marley, died when he was just five years old, it wasn't the Marley Estate where he spent his childhood. Born out of wedlock to Marley and Anita Belnavis, Ky-Mani was raised in harsh poverty in Jamaica, then onto the violent streets of Miami. Far from the privilege one might associate with the Marley name, Ky-Mani soon began selling crack just to get by.
What unfolded next in Ky-Mani's life is the stuff of musical legends. From bullet-riddled alleys to world stages, Ky-Mani is now a Grammy-nominated recording and performing artist, in the tradition of his famous father. He reveals his gripping journey in Dear Dad (Farrah Gray Publishing / HCI, $14.95), with a title inspired by Ky-Mani's award-winning song Dear Dad."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 15, 2024
Lest denne for andre gang. Likte den like godt andre gangen, som første gangen jeg leste den. Synes Ky-Mani Marley skildrer godt og får fram sine tanker og meninger i boken!
November 13, 2014
I consider this to be the diary of the “forgotten son” of Bob Marley - Ky-Mani Marley. Once I got used to his voice and conversational style he used to speak through his diary, it was quite nice because I felt like he was talking directly to me. If anything is written in a journal-esque fashion and it manages to make the reader go through an intimate experience, then I think that is a big box ticked. Perhaps if Ky-Mani didn’t repeat himself so much throughout the book I would have enjoyed it even more. But whenever this happened I simply reminded myself that I was reading a diary of sorts, a stream of thoughts as somebody recalled milestones in their life. And repetition is often what you hear when two people are having an intimate conversation. Sometimes one feels the need to repeat themselves to illustrate certain points. I also felt like it was perhaps a cultural thing, for example my parents were born and raised in Nigeria, and culturally there’s a way Nigerians tell stories that people from other backgrounds may not understand or find “strange.”
Whilst reading Ky-Mani Marley’s Dear Dad I could imagine the both of us sitting somewhere warm, cool drink in hand, whilst I listened to his anecdotes.
Since this is somebody’s version of events, I think your enjoyment will depend on how much of a fan of Bob Marley you were/are - the legendary Reggae singer-songwriter died before I was born. Therefore I did not live through his fame, or even the initial mourning period his fans around the world went through. So at no point was I reading this thinking anything like: “oh my goodness, do not speak ill of the Marleys!”
We never really played Bob Marley’s music in my house growing up, so I had no bias towards him in this book (although it’s important to stress that the fall outs the author refers to in Dear Dad all take place after the singers’ death).
Dear Dad is Ky-Mani Marley taking the opportunity to tell readers how, as one of the reggae greats’ many children, who’s mother was not married to Bob Marley, or highly regarded by the rest of the Marley clan, he was completely cut off from the icon’s multi-million dollar estate. Due to this, as he tells it, he was subjected to a life of poverty in Jamaica and then in Miami, where he and his mother moved to in search of a better life. Not only did he and his mother suffer poverty, but they both had little choice but to engage in illegal gangland activities including drug smuggling.
Of course how sad, and possibly more than sad, how ironic that one of the son’s of arguably the ultimate personification of Peace and Love, was a gangster for a significant period of his life. A life that involved fist fights, guns, and trying to avoid prison.
Again, I am no authority on Bob Marley, in fact, up until 2012 when I watched the brilliant documentary Marley, directed by Kevin Macdonald, I didn’t know much about him. In a way this contributed to my “enjoyment” of Dear Dad (I put quotation marks around enjoyment because I can never really enjoy a sad story). I could read it objectively and this is something I always prefer.
It would be interesting to hear the other sides of the story because common sense tells us that there are always more than one side to any tale. But personal experience has taught me that families can be the most fucked up and complicated thing, and for Ky-Mani - somebody who by wearing his heart on his sleeve in writing this book, has displayed that he is bitter (at times) and angry - to pen what I would also describe as an open letter to the rest of the Marley’s, is quite a... brave thing to do. Even though it could have ultimately been for financial gain, I do think that I have just finished reading a story by a strong person. A person that knows how to articulate their feelings - unfortunately a trait that I haven’t been fortunate enough to experience in many people.
Dear Dad ends somewhat positively, and some of Ky-Mani’s song lyrics can be found towards the back of the book. I wasn’t too impressed by his lyrics but I have definitely been affected by his story.
Whilst reading Ky-Mani Marley’s Dear Dad I could imagine the both of us sitting somewhere warm, cool drink in hand, whilst I listened to his anecdotes.
Since this is somebody’s version of events, I think your enjoyment will depend on how much of a fan of Bob Marley you were/are - the legendary Reggae singer-songwriter died before I was born. Therefore I did not live through his fame, or even the initial mourning period his fans around the world went through. So at no point was I reading this thinking anything like: “oh my goodness, do not speak ill of the Marleys!”
We never really played Bob Marley’s music in my house growing up, so I had no bias towards him in this book (although it’s important to stress that the fall outs the author refers to in Dear Dad all take place after the singers’ death).
Dear Dad is Ky-Mani Marley taking the opportunity to tell readers how, as one of the reggae greats’ many children, who’s mother was not married to Bob Marley, or highly regarded by the rest of the Marley clan, he was completely cut off from the icon’s multi-million dollar estate. Due to this, as he tells it, he was subjected to a life of poverty in Jamaica and then in Miami, where he and his mother moved to in search of a better life. Not only did he and his mother suffer poverty, but they both had little choice but to engage in illegal gangland activities including drug smuggling.
Of course how sad, and possibly more than sad, how ironic that one of the son’s of arguably the ultimate personification of Peace and Love, was a gangster for a significant period of his life. A life that involved fist fights, guns, and trying to avoid prison.
Again, I am no authority on Bob Marley, in fact, up until 2012 when I watched the brilliant documentary Marley, directed by Kevin Macdonald, I didn’t know much about him. In a way this contributed to my “enjoyment” of Dear Dad (I put quotation marks around enjoyment because I can never really enjoy a sad story). I could read it objectively and this is something I always prefer.
It would be interesting to hear the other sides of the story because common sense tells us that there are always more than one side to any tale. But personal experience has taught me that families can be the most fucked up and complicated thing, and for Ky-Mani - somebody who by wearing his heart on his sleeve in writing this book, has displayed that he is bitter (at times) and angry - to pen what I would also describe as an open letter to the rest of the Marley’s, is quite a... brave thing to do. Even though it could have ultimately been for financial gain, I do think that I have just finished reading a story by a strong person. A person that knows how to articulate their feelings - unfortunately a trait that I haven’t been fortunate enough to experience in many people.
Dear Dad ends somewhat positively, and some of Ky-Mani’s song lyrics can be found towards the back of the book. I wasn’t too impressed by his lyrics but I have definitely been affected by his story.
June 19, 2014
It was good to learn all that Ky-Mani has gone through from a young age up until the writing of this book. How many changes he has made in those years.
It's sad to know that he didn't have the truly close relationship he should have had with his siblings as they grew up and even in their early adult years. They have tried to make things work out with their relationships, but like most families, sometimes, it's just a struggle.
There were some parts of this book that I could relate to as far as feeling like the black sheep sometimes and not going in the direction your family thinks you should go. It was confirmation for me that you sometimes have to go against what others think you should do and go with your own flow, what makes you happy and content with your life. If the Most High is happy with the way your life is going and/or your willing to go with His guidance, then that's all that you need to do...forget what others think you should do (if you know that's not for you) and just do you!
This book is about making things happen in life that will leave a positive force in your life and hopefully in the life of others. Making positive changes in your life and getting rid of the negative. And that your past is just that, your past...You can't change it, just find a way to build on it and turn into a learning opportunity for you and the people you come across in life. Don't allow anyone to hold against you what you have done in your life...Just Be You! That's all you can ever be. Don't try to be anyone else...You were born an individual, not a carbon copy...
The reason this book got a 4/5 was because there was much of it that I found kind of boring many times and was just reading to get past it. Many times things were repetitive and could have just been said once but I guess he felt he had to make his points. And it was like it was written for those who have gone through and/or going through what he has dealt with in his life. Growing up in the areas he grew up in. Quite a bit of cursing throughout much of the book, but it is who he is so I had to just get over it and finish the book.
After waiting so long to read the book, I can say it is well worth the read and finding out he felt growing up and feeling like the outcast in the Marley family sometimes. I didn't have a lot of expectations for this book so it wasn't a disappointment at all for me. It was a bit different than I did expect though. I know, I just said I didn't have expectations but I meant I didn't expect it to be amazing! So, it held up on that end. But I did learn more than I ever knew about the Marley Boys/Sons. :-)
It's sad to know that he didn't have the truly close relationship he should have had with his siblings as they grew up and even in their early adult years. They have tried to make things work out with their relationships, but like most families, sometimes, it's just a struggle.
There were some parts of this book that I could relate to as far as feeling like the black sheep sometimes and not going in the direction your family thinks you should go. It was confirmation for me that you sometimes have to go against what others think you should do and go with your own flow, what makes you happy and content with your life. If the Most High is happy with the way your life is going and/or your willing to go with His guidance, then that's all that you need to do...forget what others think you should do (if you know that's not for you) and just do you!
This book is about making things happen in life that will leave a positive force in your life and hopefully in the life of others. Making positive changes in your life and getting rid of the negative. And that your past is just that, your past...You can't change it, just find a way to build on it and turn into a learning opportunity for you and the people you come across in life. Don't allow anyone to hold against you what you have done in your life...Just Be You! That's all you can ever be. Don't try to be anyone else...You were born an individual, not a carbon copy...
The reason this book got a 4/5 was because there was much of it that I found kind of boring many times and was just reading to get past it. Many times things were repetitive and could have just been said once but I guess he felt he had to make his points. And it was like it was written for those who have gone through and/or going through what he has dealt with in his life. Growing up in the areas he grew up in. Quite a bit of cursing throughout much of the book, but it is who he is so I had to just get over it and finish the book.
After waiting so long to read the book, I can say it is well worth the read and finding out he felt growing up and feeling like the outcast in the Marley family sometimes. I didn't have a lot of expectations for this book so it wasn't a disappointment at all for me. It was a bit different than I did expect though. I know, I just said I didn't have expectations but I meant I didn't expect it to be amazing! So, it held up on that end. But I did learn more than I ever knew about the Marley Boys/Sons. :-)
November 11, 2010
Ky-Mani Marley wrote what is a combination of his auto-biography, personal struggle, and family grievances in his book. Ky-Mani was the son of musical icon Bob Marley, but was born from an extra-marital affair, so he was not the son of Rita Marley. At the time of his father's untimely passing, he was left to a lifetime of poverty in the slums of Falmouth, almost completely disregarded by the riches that were a portion of his father's estate. Because of the adults in their lives, the children of Marley did not have the opportunity to strengthen the bonds of the sibling unity that Ky-Mani feels that they could have had their father still been alive.
He provides the reader with a comprehensive view of his life, where he grew up with his maternal family emphasizing the rich bond that they had, though they may have been cash poor. Ky-Mani makes a plea to his Marley family to keep in mind the bond that they have in common - their deceased,beloved father and to shed the political ties that have restricted them from forging a familial bond that lasts unconditionally. He feels very much like the Black Sheep of the family, determined to make his own way, refusing to bow down to the pressures placed on him, and deal with the hand that the card game of life has dealt him.
Marley's life story is amazing in that he was so open about his background. He was born in Jamaica, residing in Falmouth. He moves to Florida around the age of 7 and strongly feels as if his family was better off back in their native land despite having no indoor plumbing, bathroom, or kitchen facilities when he was home. Their family settled nicely into the slums of Miami and he picked up on all that was negative and illegal nearly immediately, he was selling drugs before most children can write in cursive. This led to a start on life that no one would imagine would have been that of the son of The Gong nor the start of one who would go on to prosper enormously in his musical endeavors.
Some would say that Ky-Mani is airing dirty family laundry, but it is necessary. He has romanticized the ideal version of his father to some extent, but don’t we all. All that was good. All that was positive. All that was charitable. All that was IRIE… Marley wants for he and his siblings to all pull together and carry on the awesome legacy for the foundation which was laid for them to take it to the next level.
He provides the reader with a comprehensive view of his life, where he grew up with his maternal family emphasizing the rich bond that they had, though they may have been cash poor. Ky-Mani makes a plea to his Marley family to keep in mind the bond that they have in common - their deceased,beloved father and to shed the political ties that have restricted them from forging a familial bond that lasts unconditionally. He feels very much like the Black Sheep of the family, determined to make his own way, refusing to bow down to the pressures placed on him, and deal with the hand that the card game of life has dealt him.
Marley's life story is amazing in that he was so open about his background. He was born in Jamaica, residing in Falmouth. He moves to Florida around the age of 7 and strongly feels as if his family was better off back in their native land despite having no indoor plumbing, bathroom, or kitchen facilities when he was home. Their family settled nicely into the slums of Miami and he picked up on all that was negative and illegal nearly immediately, he was selling drugs before most children can write in cursive. This led to a start on life that no one would imagine would have been that of the son of The Gong nor the start of one who would go on to prosper enormously in his musical endeavors.
Some would say that Ky-Mani is airing dirty family laundry, but it is necessary. He has romanticized the ideal version of his father to some extent, but don’t we all. All that was good. All that was positive. All that was charitable. All that was IRIE… Marley wants for he and his siblings to all pull together and carry on the awesome legacy for the foundation which was laid for them to take it to the next level.
August 27, 2010
Ky-Mani Marley wrote what is a combination of his auto-biography, personal struggle, and family grievances in his book. Ky-Mani was the son of musical icon Bob Marley, but was born from an extra-marital affair, so he was not the son of Rita Marley. At the time of his father's untimely passing, he was left to a lifetime of poverty in the slums of Falmouth, almost completely disregarded by the riches that were a portion of his father's estate. Because of the adults in their lives, the children of Marley did not have the opportunity to strengthen the bonds of the sibling unity that Ky-Mani feels that they could have had their father still been alive.
He provides the reader with a comprehensive view of his life, where he grew up with his maternal family emphasizing the rich bond that they had, though they may have been cash poor. Ky-Mani makes a plea to his Marley family to keep in mind the bond that they have in common - their deceased,beloved father and to shed the political ties that have restricted them from forging a familial bond that lasts unconditionally. He feels very much like the Black Sheep of the family, determined to make his own way, refusing to bow down to the pressures placed on him, and deal with the hand that the card game of life has dealt him.
Marley's life story is amazing in that he was so open about his background. He was born in Jamaica, residing in Falmouth. He moves to Florida around the age of 7 and strongly feels as if his family was better off back in their native land despite having no indoor plumbing, bathroom, or kitchen facilities when he was home. Their family settled nicely into the slums of Miami and he picked up on all that was negative and illegal nearly immediately, he was selling drugs before most children can write in cursive. This led to a start on life that no one would imagine would have been that of the son of The Gong nor the start of one who would go on to prosper enormously in his musical endeavors.
Some would say that Ky-Mani is airing dirty family laundry, but it is necessary. He has romanticized the ideal version of his father to some extent, but don’t we all. All that was good. All that was positive. All that was charitable. All that was IRIE… Marley wants for he and his siblings to all pull together and carry on the awesome legacy for the foundation which was laid for them to take it to the next level.
SHICA ROBINSON
AAMBC Reviewer
He provides the reader with a comprehensive view of his life, where he grew up with his maternal family emphasizing the rich bond that they had, though they may have been cash poor. Ky-Mani makes a plea to his Marley family to keep in mind the bond that they have in common - their deceased,beloved father and to shed the political ties that have restricted them from forging a familial bond that lasts unconditionally. He feels very much like the Black Sheep of the family, determined to make his own way, refusing to bow down to the pressures placed on him, and deal with the hand that the card game of life has dealt him.
Marley's life story is amazing in that he was so open about his background. He was born in Jamaica, residing in Falmouth. He moves to Florida around the age of 7 and strongly feels as if his family was better off back in their native land despite having no indoor plumbing, bathroom, or kitchen facilities when he was home. Their family settled nicely into the slums of Miami and he picked up on all that was negative and illegal nearly immediately, he was selling drugs before most children can write in cursive. This led to a start on life that no one would imagine would have been that of the son of The Gong nor the start of one who would go on to prosper enormously in his musical endeavors.
Some would say that Ky-Mani is airing dirty family laundry, but it is necessary. He has romanticized the ideal version of his father to some extent, but don’t we all. All that was good. All that was positive. All that was charitable. All that was IRIE… Marley wants for he and his siblings to all pull together and carry on the awesome legacy for the foundation which was laid for them to take it to the next level.
SHICA ROBINSON
AAMBC Reviewer
March 26, 2013
If there is anything to be gleaned from this book it is this...Ky-Mani most certainly didn't have it easy growing up a Marley. He is the son (one of many) of the greatest humanitarian/reggae artist/influential person of the last 30 + years. He was born a Marley, but never experienced life like one once he father Robert Nesta Marley passed away. He was pushed aside and made to be an outcast due to tryst/affair that Bob had with Ky-Mani's mother. Ky-Mani was never given any sort of hand outs or gifts from his family and the estate, even though he was most certainly due a good portion of the money that was made by his father, which in turn should of become his inheritance for being the "seed" or blood of Bob Marley. Unfortunately that never happened, he was never really welcomed onto the grandiose property where his brothers, sisters and even Rita Marley lived. Instead he was forced to live in the slums of Falmouth, Jamaica with his mom, grandmother and his several other relatives. Even after him and his family were able to somehow uproot themselves and move to the states, he still didn't have it any better there. There he resided in area known as Liberty City in Dade County, Miami. Despite all the hardships, drug dealing and various other crimes that he had to commit just to survive, he came out of it all a better person and he now strives to help enrich childeren's lives by giving them the things that they need in order to flourish and become better people themselves down the road
July 1, 2012
I read this in about a week leading up to the Marley documentary that is now out. I have been a Bob Marley fan for a very long time, and follow old and current Marley (family) and Wailers news as it comes. I give credit to Ky-Mani for writing this book. The writing style is more like him directly talking to you and it is very repetitive in many spots. That aside it is a decent story even if your a long time fan in general. I wish it went more into the politics behind the family and the name. Even with all the press for the new film there are Marley's missing that I thought for sure would have been present in promoting the film or maybe even been a part of the film. I wonder what Bob is thinking looking down at all of this, while the family has done many good things in his name to carry on what he started, there is at the same time many times where I am sure he can't help but shake his head at all the foolishness. Like Ky-Mani said, they are all brothers and sisters and should come together as one, despite what they were taught growing up. Taking another page from the film, which I also think sums up Ky-Mani's book is when it's said that Bob didn't write a will because that just wasn't him, and thats when you see who is really who and who comes out kicking and punching for every little thing they can get.
April 27, 2015
This was a tedious read in that Ky-Mani constantly said the same thing over and over. This definitely took away from my enjoyment of this book.
As I sit and reflect on it, I would have to agree that I appreciated the chance to learn about Ky-Mani's coming of age and how he considered himself the "black sheep of the Marley family. It is quite unbelievable that a son of Bob's grew up in such poverty, crime and violence and drugs. Ky-Mani's anger, understandably, shines through. Hopefully, writing this book has helped him to deal with his feelings and, hopefully, he and his siblings have grown closer.
As I sit and reflect on it, I would have to agree that I appreciated the chance to learn about Ky-Mani's coming of age and how he considered himself the "black sheep of the Marley family. It is quite unbelievable that a son of Bob's grew up in such poverty, crime and violence and drugs. Ky-Mani's anger, understandably, shines through. Hopefully, writing this book has helped him to deal with his feelings and, hopefully, he and his siblings have grown closer.
January 4, 2013
I think Ky-Mani is a good musician and actor. But after reading his book, I especially like his philanthropic efforts and his whole outlook on family and humanity. (for that I give an infinite amount of stars.) But I have to be honest and say that I did think he repeated himself a lot through out the story. That took away a lot for me because I wanted him to hurry up and move on with the story. (the reason I can't give it more than 3 stars.) Blessings to him and his family ... especially his kids. Keep doing what you are doing!
July 20, 2012
Ky-mani Marley is the the son of Bob Marley and wrote this book about his life. It starts with his childhood in Jamaica and continues the troubles he had while growing up in Miami. It's written in a laid-back style and it feels like Ky-mani is right there in the room talking to you. I feel this could be an encouraging story to anyone who has dealt with poverty or family rejection.
July 14, 2010
Great book
July 2, 2011
This book really made me consider the lives of children who are born outside of marriage and he uncertainty of their futures if the parents do not have some legal documents drawn up.
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August 25, 2013Inspiring
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews