Following in Their Fathers’ Footsteps

The timeless maxim, “Children live what they learn”, certainly holds true where musical parents and their like-minded offspring are concerned. The Jamaican music industry is rife with patriarchal dynasties, in which a father’s love for music is proudly passed on to his progeny.

From reggae's iconic exponent Bob Marley and his brood of musical geniuses - Ziggy, Stephen, Damian, Kymani and Julian - to Freddie McGregor and the new breed of “Big Ship” sailors, musical family trees have always found fertile soil in the field of entertainment.

Roots rock group Morgan Heritage are today referred to as the new “first family of reggae”, and a family they truly are. Without even taking LMS (a group that features some of their younger relatives) into consideration, the Morgans epitomise the term “keeping it in the family”. The children of Denroy Morgan are cultural ambassadors who have seamlessly continued their father’s musical mission.

Tarrus and Jimmy Riley

He is the son of legendary crooner Jimmy Riley, but reggae's most promising son, Omar “Tarrus” Riley, does not want to be remembered as “Jimmy Riley's son”. While thankful for his father's influence on his professional and personal development, Tarrus is labouring to carve out a name for himself in the music business.

Queen Ifrica and Derrick Morgan

Born Ventrice Morgan and hailed as the “Fyah Muma”, Queen Ifrica is the daughter of ska legend Derrick Morgan. Although she did not meet him until she was in her early twenties, Ifrica credits him as being a source of inspiration.

Arif and Ibo Cooper

One is a dynamic producer and radio personality, while the other is a music veteran famed for his work with one of reggae's biggest bands, Third World. FAME FM’s Arif Cooper and his father, Michael “Ibo” Cooper, have certainly made their mark on the music business in their own respective ways.

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