Junior Martin and the Legendary Wailers kicked off their ‘Happy Family’ North American Tour on Friday, June 14, in North Carolina.

Marvin who reported that the show is already sold out says, “Reggae is here to stay”.

Reggae Royalty Third World, Inner Circle, and Skatalites will co-headline the opening show.

The tour will also feature the young talent of Quan-dajai, Matthew Malcolm (M2), and Davo, fresh from their roles in and supporting the Bob Marley Paramount biopic feature film, Bob Marley: One Love, which has already grossed over USD 300 million.

The tour is rounded out by Yashemabeth McGreggor, Kenyatta Hill, Ricci 954, Rory Kerr, and others who will appear on select dates. 

Junior Marvin is widely recognized as a great reggae guitarist who also served as the musical director of the iconic Bob Marley and the Wailers band.

Marvin says this tour also helps fulfil his promise to Bob to keep the wailers going. His guitar artistry had a huge influence on Marley and can be heard on such seminal tracks as ‘Could You Be Loved’ (which Junior originally wrote and gave to Marley), ‘Waiting in Vain,’ ‘Buffalo Soldier,’ ‘The Heathen’, ‘One Love’, and ‘Jamming’.

Marvin’s latest project, ‘Happy Family’, the just-released nine-track album, features a new interpretation of the single ‘One Love‘, and is distributed by Flat Iron Records. He says, “Every individual on this planet is related to one another, and we must focus on the family and provide a space for the youth.”.

This narrative is depicted on the album cover by Sarah Gusten Marr. The album is available on vinyl, his preferred format, which is making a comeback in Europe, and also in digital streaming format, which is coming soon.

Music lovers should look out for the release of Marvin’s book ‘I Don’t Want to Wait in Vain’; Before Bob, with Bob, and After Bob.

The Coffee Table Trilogy will each feature over one hundred photos taken on the road with Robert Nesta Marley and give insight into the experiences.