Music/Entertainment 411 - March 2007

Stephen Marley Takes To The Road Headlining Venues Across North America Concert Tour Also Featuring 'Jr Gong' & K'Naan Scheduled To Kick Off On March 30, 2007 In Cleveland , OH

Debut Album “Mind Control” Set For Release On March 20, 2007 

"The album is a quiet masterpiece - easily the best effort from a Marley progeny yet" INTERVIEW MAGAZINE. 

Stephen Marley, GRAMMY winning artist and producer has announced that he is launching a much anticipated tour this spring. Kicking off on March 30, 2007, the tour is happening in association with the Ghetto Youths International Foundation and will feature special guest ‘Jr. Gong.’ The tour will run through May, hitting more than 40 cities with acclaimed artist K’naan also in tow.   

Billed as the Mind Control North American tour, Ghetto Youths International will contribute one dollar from every ticket sold to the Marley’s homegrown charity, The Ghetto Youth Foundation, which provides aid and programs to children struggling in impoverished and war-ravaged conditions around the globe.  Highlights of the 3-month tour of Canada and the US will also include performances at the World Ski & Snowboard Championships in Whistler, British Columbia on April 15, 2007 Coachella Music Festival in Indio, CA on April 27, 2007, and Jazzfest in New Orleans on May 5, 2007. 

Stephen is preparing the cross-country trek in support of his soon-to-be released solo debut album Mind Control (Tuff Gong/ Ghetto Youths/ Universal-Republic) released on March 20, 2007. The album has been receiving accolades in the press with early reviews calling the release "irresistible...an impressive offering" (Urb Magazine) and “4 stars...heir to reggae's royal family honors dad's legacy....dance-hall-inflected reggae/ hip-hop jams, carefully balancing political fire and island-life vibe. His ease with both elements would make his father proud” (Spin Magazine). 

Stephen will be showcasing new songs from the release, which includes guest appearances from Mos Def and Ben Harper. Standout tracks include gems such as the mesmerizing “Chase Dem,” and the soulful serenade “Hey Baby.” The album also features the hit track “The Traffic Jam,” which is currently exploding onto charts in Jamaica and England and showing early spins on several US Rhythmic/Crossover stations. Marley, along with Damian, debuted the track live on the Jimmy Kimmel Show. 

For Stephen, 2006 was a coming-out party of sorts. He scored his fifth GRAMMY award for his triumphant co-production work on brother Damian ‘Jr.Gong’ Marley’s acclaimed RIAA certified Gold disc Welcome To Jamrock, to date garnering him the most GRAMMY awards of any Marley and more than any other Reggae artist in history. Stephen also embarked on two U.S. concert tours last year, including the acclaimed “Bob Marley Roots, Rock Reggae Festival,” where brothers Stephen and Ziggy Marley joined together for the first time ever with reggae pioneer Bunny Wailer. 

Music heads have been up on Stephen’s work for years, whether for collaborations with R&B stars like Erykah Badu or his part on the dancehall burner “It Was Written,” and especially after Chant Down Babylon, the platinum-selling star-studded Bob Marley tribute he produced. A veteran of the family’s fertile launching pad, Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Stephen has emerged in recent years as a pivotal production and creative force, helping to oversee Marley enterprises like Tuff Gong Records and its umbrella imprint Ghetto Youths.                                                                                       

Dates for Stephen’s Mind Control North American Tour* are as follows:

Fri-Mar-30       Cleveland, OH                  House of Blues

Sat-Mar-31      Chicago, IL                     Vic Theatre

Sun-Apr-01     Minneapolis, MN                  First Avenue   

Wed-Apr-04    Iowa City, IA        University of Iowa - IMU Ballroom

Thu-Apr-05      Kansas City, MO   Voodoo Lounge at Harrah's Casino

Fri-Apr-06        Boulder, CO                  Boulder Theater

Sat-Apr-07      Vail, CO                  8150

Sun-Apr-08     Aspen, CO                  Belly Up  

Mon-Apr-09     Park City, UT                   Suede

Wed-Apr-11    Spokane, WA            The Big Easy Concert House

Thu-Apr-12      Portland, OR                  Roseland Theater

Fri-Apr-13        Seattle, WA                  Showbox

Sat-Apr-14      Vancouver, BC                   Commodore Ballroom

Sun-Apr-15     Whistler, BC    World Ski & Snowboard Championships

Fri-Apr-20        San Luis Obispo, CA         Cal Poly Recreation Center

Sat-Apr-21      Santa Cruz, CA                   The Catalyst

Sun-Apr-22     San Francisco, CA                   The Fillmore

Tue-Apr-24      Ventura, CA                   Ventura Theatre

Wed-Apr-25    San Diego, CA             House of Blues - San Diego

Fri-Apr-27        Indio, CA                               Coachella Festival  

Sat-Apr-28      Las Vegas, NV                   House of Blues

Mon-Apr-30     Albuquerque, NM                  Sunshine Theatre

Wed-May-02   Fort Worth, TX                   Ridglea Theater

Thu-May-03    Austin, TX                   Antone's Nightclub

Sat-May-05     New Orleans, LA                    Jazzfest

Sun-May-06    New Orleans, LA                    House of Blues

Tue-May-08    Washington, DC                   9:30 Club

Wed-May-09   Boston, MA                  Avalon Ballroom

Fri-May-11      New York, NY          Nokia Theatre Times Square

Sat-May-12     Philadelphia, PA               Theatre Of The Living Arts

Tue-May-15    Toronto, ONT                  Phoenix Concert Theatre

Wed-May-16   Pittsburgh, PA                   Mr. Smalls Theatre

Thu-May-17    Norfolk, VA             The Norva Theatre

Sat-May-19     St. Petersburg, FL                Jannus Landing

Sun-May-20    Orlando, FL                    House of Blues 

* Additional dates to be added. 

For more information please stay tuned to:  stephenmarleymusic.com.