Julian Marley Wins Grammy for Best Reggae Album for 'Colors of Royal'

LOS ANGELES – Julian “JuJu” Marley, the son of the late Jamaican legendary reggae superstar, Bob Marley, has won the Best Reggae Album during the 66th Annual Grammy  Awards held in Los Angeles, California on Sunday night.

Marley, a three-time Grammy-nominated reggae artist, collaborated with Alexx Antaeus, of Earth, Wind & Fire and Rolling Stones fame, on “Colors of Royal”, released last April, in winning the 2024 award for reggae. Antaeus produced the album.

The British-born Marley was previously nominated for the award in reggae with “Awake” (2009) and “As I Am” (2019).

Other nominees for the 2024 Best Reggae Album were Jamaicans Beenie Man (“Simma”), Buju Banton (“Born for Greatness”),  the British-based Burning Spear (“No Destroyer”) and a Bermudian reggae artistCollie Buddz (“Cali Roots Riddim 2023”).

Jamaica reggae star Kabaka Pyramid had captured the Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2023.

Antaeus accepted the award on Sunday, on behalf of himself and Marley, who is on tour in Australia.

“I’d like to dedicate this to the people of Jamaica who have accepted me as one of their own and have lived up to the motto of the country, ‘Out of many one,’” he said.

According to Reggage Tastemaker, “Antaeus achieved worldwide success with his four previous albums: Byzantine Meditation, World Prayer, Zero4 and Chromasounds.”

Reggae Tastemaker said the album also “boasts four new songs, as well as the previously released singles, ‘The Tide Is High’ and ‘Roll,’ plus brand-new remixes of both.”

“The album is a testament to the power of collaboration, as Marley and Antaeus have blended their unique styles and influences to create something extraordinary.

“’Colors of Royal’ showcases a kaleidoscope of sounds and invites listeners to both think about the state of our world today and, at the same time, appreciate and enjoy life,” it added.