Biography
Marlon Asher (born Marlon Sobers) is a roots reggae singer from Enterprise, Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago. He began singing at age 7 in the choir of his grandparents' Mount Ararat Spiritual Baptist Church before later converting to Rastafari. He adopted the surname "Asher" from the 12 Tribes of Israel — the tribe associated with December and the spirit of Christ — reflecting his deep spiritual grounding. His musical vision was shaped from an early age by the foundational reggae voices of Dennis Brown, Barrington Levy, and Bob Marley.
Asher burst onto the international reggae scene in 2004 with "Ganja Farmer," a track that swept Trinidad and Tobago, spread rapidly through the Caribbean and into the United States, Africa, and Europe, and became a global reggae anthem. Despite the song's enormous popularity, it sparked considerable controversy in his home country due to its subject matter. He proved his staying power by winning the 2007 COTT Award (Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago) for Best Reggae/Dancehall Artist. His studio output expanded with Unconditional Love (2008), the Higher Learning Mixtape (2013), Illusions (2015), Rebirth (2019), and Safe (2025), along with the Amsterdam EP (2011) recorded with Dutch singer Leah Rosier.
Beyond the studio, Asher built his reputation as a formidable touring act, sharing stages with Sizzla, Beenie Man, Capleton, Maxi Priest, Israel Vibration, Matisyahu, Slightly Stoopid, Kottonmouth Kings, and Boyz II Men across the continental United States, Hawaii, Canada, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Africa. He is widely credited as a pioneer of the Trinidadian reggae movement, paving the way for a generation of local artists including Prophet Benjamin, I-sasha, Khari Kill, and Jah Bami. As of 2025, the "Ganja Farmer" team was actively exploring Grammy nomination opportunities for the song, citing renewed global interest more than two decades after its release.
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Fun Facts
- His stage surname 'Asher' comes from the 12 Tribes of Israel — Asher is the tribe associated with December, representing the spirit of Christ in Rastafari doctrine.
- 'Ganja Farmer' (2004) was his very first released song and became an immediate international hit, an extraordinarily rare debut achievement in any genre.
- In 2025 — over 21 years after its release — 'Ganja Farmer' was still being discussed for Grammy nomination potential, with the original production team citing sustained global streaming and renewed interest.
- Asher has toured with acts as stylistically diverse as Boyz II Men (R&B), Kottonmouth Kings (rap-rock), and Israel Vibration (roots reggae), reflecting the cross-genre reach of his catalog.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Bob Marley - Primary stylistic influence and spiritual inspiration; Asher has cited Marley as a foundational reggae legend who shaped his Rastafari-rooted sound
- Dennis Brown - Cited by Asher as one of the biggest reggae artists of all time and a direct musical influence
- Barrington Levy - Cited alongside Dennis Brown and Bob Marley as a core influence on Asher's vocal and stylistic development
Key Collaborators
- Sizzla - Touring partner and collaborator in the reggae circuit
- Slightly Stoopid - Touring partner; collaborated on US reggae-rock crossover circuit
- Matisyahu - Touring partner on US reggae circuit
- Beenie Man - Touring partner on Caribbean/international circuit
- Leah Rosier - Dutch singer; co-released the Amsterdam EP (2011) (Amsterdam EP (2011))
- Don Corleon - Jamaican producer; production collaborator
- Teflon Zincfence - Producer; collaborated on recordings
- Pressure Busspipe - VI reggae artist; shared collaborator credits
- Anthony B - Jamaican roots reggae artist; collaborator in the reggae circuit
Artists Influenced
- Prophet Benjamin - Trinidadian reggae artist; part of the local reggae movement Asher pioneered
- I-sasha - Trinidadian reggae performer; cited by Asher as part of next generation he helped open doors for
- Khari Kill - Trinidadian reggae artist influenced by Asher's pioneering local work
- Jah Bami - Local Trinidadian reggae artist who followed in Asher's wake
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #reggae
References
Heard on WWOZ
Marlon Asher has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.