• View Comments
• Share with Shortlink:

(AllHipHop News) The family of Bob Marley has announced the first ever authorized documentary on the singer will be in theaters this April.

Magnolia Pictures has teamed with VH1 to obtain the United States rights to Academy award-winning director Kevin McDonald’s documentary “Marley.”

“Marley” is being executive produced by Island Records’ founder Chris Blackwell, as well as Bob Marley’s son Ziggy Marley.

The documentary will make its world premiere at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February, and will premiere in North America, at SXSW this March.

“This documentary is the ultimate revelation of my father’s life,” Executive Producer Ziggy Marley told AllHipHop.com in a statement today (February 6), on what would have been his father’s 67th birthday.

“The family is proud to be able to have the world finally experience this emotional journey,” Ziggy Marley said.

“Marley” is the first official autobiography to tell the definitive life of Bob Marley, who was a musician, political activist and father.

The documentary is comprised of rare footage, archival photos and interviews with family, friends and bandmates.

Marley, who was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, is a best selling artist around the world.

His compilation album Legend has sold over 10 million copies around the world by itself, while his Facebook page has over 35 million fans.

Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945.

He’s the son of white quartermaster Captain Norval Marley of the British West Indian Regiment and an eighteen-year old black Jamaican woman, Cedella Malcolm.

He died on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36, from melanoma cancer.

“Marley” is slated to open in theaters and all VOD and digital platforms on Friday, April 20th.

“Bob Marley is a fascinating, towering figure in musical history, and ‘Marley’ is the biography that he deserves,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Kevin Macdonald has once again shown himself to be a master documentarian with this eye-opening, entertaining, beautifully crafted film.”

VH1 has licensed the documentary through their Emmy-Award winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise.