MARLEY… I know I am a true Marley—
SIX months after submitting his DNA results to the Marley family, singer Fabian Marley says he is yet to get a response.
He told the Jamaica Observer that he took the DNA test after receiving a “cease and desist” order from the family’s attorneys, Michael Hylton & Associates.
The document warned him to refrain from using the Marley name and claiming to be the son of reggae legend Bob Marley, unless he supplied concrete evidence.
Speaking with the Observer, Fabian Marley said the DNA test was carried out at the University of the West Indies (Mona).
“They come back to me acting like they didn’t get my first set of evidence, but I do what I have to do already…. I know I am a true Marley. Whatever is to be must be and the world will see what is fake and what is true,” said the 46-year-old.
But the letter from the law firm further stated that their client has no basis to believe Fabian’s allegations and questions how he would have obtained the superstar’s DNA in order to conduct such a test.
Fabian Marley, who goes by the moniker Gong Kid, says he was born in Trench Town, the inner-city community from which Bob Marley rose to international prominence during the 1970s.
Marley died in May 1981 from cancer at age 36.
The father of numerous children, he died intestate.
Fabian Marley gives his birth date as July 27, 1968. He claims to be the result of a liaison between his mother Raphie Munroe and Bob Marley.
He says all his official documents, including his birth certificate, have the Marley surname.
Fabian Marley is set to release his debut album, Nature’s Valentine, next month. Some of the tracks were mastered at Tuff Gong Studios, owned by the Marley family.
He insists the directives from the Marley family will not derail his plans to promote the project overseas.
Executive producer of the album, George O’Gilvie, informed the Observer that the singer has at least six shows booked for Africa and India later this year.
Marley insists he is not looking for a handout from the Marleys, but rather to continue the work started by his late father.
“I just want them to unite and love people, just like my father. My father legacy is his musical heritage, and that is here for all of us,” he said.
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