Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, is making waves of his own in the musical world. The youngest of Marley’s sons, Damian scored a Grammy for his 2001 album “Halfway Tree.” Now on a 30-day tour through the U.S., he stops at Tipitina’s on May 20. Damian talked to The Maroon before a gig in Portland on Tuesday night.

Damian, how’s it going, man?Not too bad, how are you?

Very good. Thanks for talking with me. I know you’re real busy with the new album and the tour.Yah mon, no problem.

Could you tell me a little about the tour?Yeah, well the tour is called “Welcome to Jamrock.” It’s the first tour we’ve done as headliners in quite a while, you know what I mean? So basically this tour really is just to come out and let people know and be aware of the music to come. Our fan base really needed this type of tour as opposed to mass media. So this is us, coming out to let people know we have some new stuff about to come out. Steve [Stephen Marley] has an album coming out late this summer called “Got Music?” So he’s doing some new tracks off that album, and I’m doing a couple tracks off my new album. So it’s kinda presenting the new stuff, you know what I mean, and giving the people anticipation.

Yeah, how have the crowds been so far?The crowds have been great; better than I expected. We don’t really have an album out right now. A lot of the shows have been sold out, so we give thanks.

Your last album, “Halfway Tree” earned a Grammy. Was there a lot of pressure on the production of this one?Umm … (laughs) yeah, now that I think about it. But we didn’t make the last album to win a Grammy. It did that off of its own merit. So we’re conscious of that.

That album had R&B, dub and hip hop elements. Can we expect the same on the new one?Expect the same? You can’t really expect music. I don’t really like to classify the music too much, you know what I mean? Yeah, but our album is like a fruit basket. There are a lot of different varieties; there’s something there for everyone.

Who were some of your influences growing up?Well obviously my family, my father and my bigger brothers. And my mother also sings. And of course the dancehall music in general, especially a lot of the stuff that was done in the 80s and early 90s – Shabba Ranks, General Trees, Super Cat, a lot of those bands in that era and that kind of music.

Speaking of your father, could you talk to me about what it means to be a Marley and what it means to carry on your father’s legacy?Well, first it just means being human really, you know what I mean? And the legacy, it’s the legacy of a Rasta, our father is a Rastaman and we are Rastas also. The legacy is just natural for us to live it and carry it on because we have the same morals and values.

What’s the story behind the nickname “Jr. Gong”?Tuff Gong was one of my father’s street names when he was coming up, and he named his record company Tuff Gong. Gong is really like a street name in Jamaica for, almost like, the Don, or top man. It was my father’s name, and I’m his son. It still says Marley without saying Marley in the sense of having an a.k.a.

You’re going to be here in New Orleans on May 20th. What do you think of the city?New Orleans is a great place, lot of culture. Every time I come out there the crowds are really hyped. The people really show their support and their love. I love the energy of New Orleans. A very music appreciative place.

Anything else you want to mention?Well, like I said, new album out this summer, so look for that … and the other is Rastafari.

Alright man, thanks for talking with me.Alright man, take care.

Pat McDermott can be reached at [email protected].