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May 1, 2007
'Master Blaster' meets 'Mind Control'
Stevie Wonder joins Stephen Marley onstage at L.A.'s House of Blues
By Jennifer Odell/BobMarley.com
Stevie Wonder jams with Stephen Marley in L.A.
Stevie Wonder and Ben Harper help out the Marleys on a few songs, including "Jammin'"
Stephen and Damian Marley knew Mos Def and Ben Harper planned to be at their April 26 House of Blues show in Los Angeles, and they'd already invited them to sit in. But a third guest star they hadn't expected turned up in the crowd. When the brothers looked out in the crowd and saw Stevie Wonder -- whose 1980 No. 1 hit, "Master Blaster" paid tribute to their father -- they decided to add one more guest star to the lineup. Wonder was happy to oblige, and joined the band for a soulful rendition of "Could You Be Loved."

The appreciation Wonder showed for Marley when he recorded "Master Blaster" was reciprocated a few years ago when Stephen and Damian Marley reprised the song on the 2003 Motown tribute album, Conception: a Reinterpretation of Stevie Wonder's Songs. With Damian on drums and programming, Julian Marley on keys and bass, and Stephen at the mic and controls, the next generation of Marleys echoed their father's message of positivity through the music of Stevie Wonder.

After Stephen's band finished their set at last week's House of Blues show, Wonder came back out to lend his voice to the encore, leaving the crowd with a version of "Jammin'" they'd never heard before.

After a successful West coast run, Stephen and his band are headed south, stopping in Ft. Worth, Austin and Houston this week before playing two shows during Jazz Fest in New Orleans this weekend.

Check out the rest of the tour schedule and buy tickets.