Bob Marley Estate to Celebrate Reggae Legend’s 80th Birthday With ‘Uprising’ Livestream

The estate of Bob Marley has lined up a series of events to celebrate what would have been the reggae legend’s 80th birthday.

The festivities begin Thursday with an ‘Uprising’ Tribute Concert livestream from the family’s Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, featuring new and established Jamaican artists like Mortimer, Bugle, Kumar Fyah, and Naomi Cowan. The livestream will begin Feb. 6 — Marley’s 80th birthday — at 3pm EST on the Tuff Gong YouTube page.

“Celebrating Daddy’s 80th birthday under the theme ‘Uprising’ is a special moment for our family and fans worldwide. This album represents so much of his spirit, with powerful songs like ‘Forever Loving Jah,’ ‘Coming In From The Cold,’ ‘Could You Be Loved,’ and ‘Redemption Song,’ which continue to inspire generations,” Bob’s daughter and CEO of the family’s company Cedella Marley said in a statement.

“Each year, we honor his legacy in a way that unites our extended family, friends, and fans from all corners of the globe. This 80th milestone is a reminder of his timeless call for love, resilience, and freedom.”

The 80th birthday celebrations will also include a worldwide singalong of Marley classics, presented by the Bob Marley Foundation and stationed at Manchester, England’s Co-op Live Arena. This will feature the 8,000-person Young Voices choir, with that group sharing the performance live over their YouTube channel.

“I know Daddy would have a huge smile on his face and be so proud to know that his words of freedom, love, and unity would be sung by so many beautiful young souls around the world over 50 years after he wrote them,” Cedella Marley added. 

“It’s a huge testament to the power of his music that his songs resonate stronger than ever and with each new generation. My father’s songs speak universal truths and that is why they sound as convincing coming out of the mouths of children as they did when he himself recorded and performed them.”

More events, including the premiere of a new docuseries titled Bob Marley & I about the Wailers’ 1975 concerts in London, are planned throughout the year.