Ziggy Marley Concert to Benefit Children's Discovery Center

On Saturday, August 15, Ziggy Marley brings family time to Hawaii! In support of the non-profit organization Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center (HCDC), he will be hosting a free children’s show at the center and will be performing songs from his newest children’s albums, “Family Time” and “B Is for Bob.” Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, no reservations will be taken for the event.

Growing up, music was a significant part of Ziggy’s childhood. And now, he hopes to share it with Hawaii’s children. “I know how important music can be in a child’s growth and development, and in a parent’s connection with their children,” he says. “Music helps children to grow with open minds and open hearts and this is my message.”

“We are thrilled to be hosting Ziggy’s children’s concert at the Discovery Center,” said HCDC President and CEO Loretta Yajima. “It is a wonderful way for families to connect through music, and we’re excited to be a part of this wonderful event.”

The children’s concert at HCDC will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a performance by local ukulele master Roy Sakuma. He will be joined by a few of his students, including a child who has learned to play the instrument with one arm. Sakuma is revered as Hawaii’s foremost ukulele teacher and has been teaching for more than 30 years. He currently has 4 studios opened throughout Oahu.

Ziggy will then take the stage at noon and perform until 12:30 p.m. After the show, he will be available for autographs.

“Family Time,” Ziggy’s first children’s album, offers a collection of family-oriented reggae tunes and features the likes of Willie Nelson, Paul Simon and local Hawaii singers Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga. In this record, which was released in May, he shares with families his love of music through themes of love, unity, freedom and fun. Ziggy says that this record represents his daily family life and was inspired by his four-year-old daughter Judah and baby Gideon. Judah even lends her voice to the album’s title track. For his second children’s album, “B Is for Bob,” Ziggy re-imagines a collection of classic tunes of his legendary father, Bob Marley. This album was just released in late June.

Ziggy says, “’Family Time’ is for all families and especially the world family.” He hopes to share the message of Family Time with children and families around the world and has already performed other children’s shows at Boulder, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Santa Barbara.

Ziggy has long been involved within the children’s community. His works include: a rendition of “Give A Little Love” with the Melody Makers on the 1991 Disney compilation “For Our Children,” the theme-song for the PBS series “Arthur,” and most memorably, a role in the movie Shark Tale as the voice of the Rasta jellyfish, Ernie. He has founded the non-profit organization Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (U.R.G.E.), which serves a number of charitable children’s causes in Jamaica and other developing countries. He is also an active supporter of Little Kids Rock, which provides children attending public schools with free musical instruments and lessons.

Seating for the children’s concert will be limited in a courtyard at the HCDC on the grass and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations will be taken for this event. Space is limited to about 200 people. While the concert is free, entrance to HCDC activity galleries requires paid admission.

For more information on the children’s show at the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, please contact Liane Usher at (808) 524-5437 ext. 23 or (808) 375-5437 or e-mail liane@discoverycenterhawaii.org.

Later that night, ‘Ziggy Marley Live in Concert’ will be held at the Waikiki Shell. Thompson’s Productions has partnered with Clear Channel Communications and Cox Radio to bring this special event to Hawaii. The concert will start at 5:00 p.m and continue until 10:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $35, $45 and $55 and can be purchased at the Blaisdell Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets, including select Macy’s. To charge tickets by phone, call (800) 745-3000. For more event information, please call Hawaii Pacific Entertainment at (808) 237-3675 or e-mail umma@hawaiipacificentertainment.com or log on to www.hawaiipacificentertainment.com.

Ziggy’s concert will bring together a list of other dynamic international artists including Mysterious, the man from Trinidad; one of Jamaica’s hottest singers, Rovleta Fraser, who will break from touring with Jr. Gong and Nas to perform in Hawaii; rock, reggae and folk musician Joseph Israel and the Jerusalem Band; the young and energetic Blak Diamon from Jamaica; and the Virgin Islands’ very own reggae musician and songwriter Zion.

Major sponsor partners of “Ziggy Marley Live in Concert” are The Waikiki Park Shore and The Hotel Wailea of The Aqua Hotels & Resorts chain, Hard Rock Café, Maui Brewing Company, Mana Foods, Land of Organica, Love Fatigues and more.