Dear Dad

The Marley Son Who Persevered From The Streets To Prominence

Ky-Mani Marley's new memoir entitled..."Dear Dad", is a compelling biographical exegesis of a son who was locked out of his iconic Father's shelter for the first half of his life, left to the whims and woes of Miami's violent ghetto streets.

Estranged from his siblings and cut out of any financial benefit or family acknowledgement by Marley's widow and subsequent manger of his estate, young Ky-Mani Marley was determined to not be a forgotten. Young Marley knew he was the seed of greatness and strove mightily to survive poverty and street predators of every kind eventually establishing a musical recognition and global prominence of his own -- all through the gift of his inherit musical abilities. As you will find in this candid and compellingly told new memoir...Ky-Mani Marley discovers a boys to men rites of passage in his justice-seeking fight to redeem his blood-lined right to stand proudly as a celebrated member of his world famous family.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

heartfelt....

This book is an eye opening look at life for those of us who grew up without a Father. For Kymani, that predicament was much more profound given the family ties. I would highly recommend this to any reader for entertainment, however for those of us who can relate to being raised in a one parent home it is a must read. i am very proud of Kymani's courage to move forward with it's publication given the nature of his family structure and how they pushed against him speaking up. I did not find, despite the family's objections to it being published, that he said anything negative about his Family. It simply gives readers a true view as to life as it was. I pray for it to bring the family closer even with the given controversy surrounding it's publication. I would recommend it as a gift to Marley collectors and readers who also went through similiar single parent upbringing. I found it Inspiring.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommend

This book is great. It was a good read. Ky-Mani did a wonderful job telling about the limited amount of time he got to spend with his Dad. He also shows that family can be just as trying in all aspects.

Interesting

It was interesting to read about Ky-Mani Marley first hand because I am 1) a Marley fan;and 2) a big Ky-Mani Marley fan. So to read about how grew up was interesting. I also like how he told the story first hand...in his own "speak". However the book became a somewhat repetitive rant, especially Chapter 9. That being said I can understand how when letting go or letting out things that have deeply hurt you it can seem as if you are rambling on and on, but you are really just trying to let out the hurt.

Its sad to hear how certain ones in the family has treated him, and great to hear that they are attempting to make the effort to heal and bond

I always try to find inspiration in everything so in the end I believe that his story is truly inspiring to know that no matter what you come from you can make it if you're determined enough to do so.

I also think that the depth I hear in his music comes from the pain he described and his life experiences. Thats why I enjoy what he has to say in his lyrics...they mean something...just as his father's did too.

AAMBC Book Reviews

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

GOD'S WORK

I read the book and I see wonderful things already that will take place for this young man. Why Rita Marley did this to a child, we may never know. But this is only the begining for him. JUST WHY?

A must read book!!!!

If i had to describe this book in three words it would be; Hope, Resilience, and LOVE .

I didn't want the book to end, that how much I enjoyed reading it .

I hope one day, I get the chance to meet this incredible artiste Ky-Many Marley.

Things happen for reasons!

I recently became friends with Ky-Mani, after reading his book. Originally, I felt very sad, and even a little upset that Ky-Mani had to experience Life the way he did. It was unfair the way he was treated by his "other" siblings & their mother. However, after finishing the book, and speaking with him, I believe the life experiences made him who he is today... they were a Blessing in disguise.
If you are a Bob Marley fan, or any Marley fan for that matter, it is definitely a great read. It gives insight to how life was in Kingston, Jamaica for the Marley's, depending on WHO your MOTHER was!

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