Sharon Marley embraces QORIHC award

Sharon Marley has been steadily building her own legacy, first as a member of the Marley family group the Melody Makers (with brothers Ziggy and Stephen and sister Cedella), then as an accomplished singer-songwriter-actress-curator-yogi and even more.

But in a recent media interview, Sharon paid tribute to the QORIHC Award bestowed on her this year as a unique brand of recognition. “I’ve collected Grammys and other industry awards in the past, but this is special as this is the first occasion on which I’m being recognised in my own right, and I’m very grateful for the recognition and to join the ranks of QORIHC Queen, founded by Laurell Nurse,” Marley said.

As Marley pointed out, she has been performing at a high level since the age of 12, when the Melody Makers came into being, mainly at the directive, she says, of her iconic father. From the youthful voicings of their first single, Children in the Ghetto, the group lay down an indelible marker with three Grammy-winning albums, and hit singles such as Tumblin’ Down and Tomorrow’s People.

In 1983, Sharon added actress to her credits, appearing in the movie Handgun and then in 1989, she was featured in the Denzil Washington-headlined The Mighty Quinn, which was filmed on location in Jamaica. She also contributed a rendition of I’m Hurting Inside, featuring co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph and her sister Cedella on the soundtrack.

Sharon has also busied herself as a custodian of the Marley legacy as the curator of the Bob Marley Museum and also nurturing young talent through the Marley affiliate, Ghetto Youths International, which in turn includes the Ghetto Youths Foundation, a non-profit foundation founded and directed by Stephen, Damian, and Julian Marley which aims to provide resources and opportunity to communities in need across the globe. Ghetto Youths Foundation is active in many communities from Jamaica to Ethiopia, from India to Miami, and is dedicated to uplifting people from all walks of life.

But she’s definitely not done with music. Sharon has teamed up with another iconic musical figure of the 70s, the legendary Big Youth on a track titled Steppah, which will appear on her upcoming debut album set for release later this year. The song, co-written by Sharon’s son Ingemar, was released on February 9 via Gong Gyal Entertainment (her own label) and Tuff Gong, along with a music video directed by her daughter Donisha Prendergast.

She describes the upcoming album as not just a mere musical release, but a spiritual odyssey and an immersive experience delving into the tapestry of her roots and influences in the music. She views her life and career as that of a “peaceful warrior” in her father’s tradition, but with her own distinct mode of expression.

Sharon is married with four children Donisha, Ingermar, Matthew, and Peter-Shane from her previous marriage.

In 2014, she married Ghanaian musician Ekow Alabi Savage.