Tuff Gong International was founded by Jamaican Superstar Bob Marley in 1965. Bob was affectionately call "The Gong", and Tuff you had to be to survive in the music business in Jamaica. Tuff Gong was originally based on Orange Street before moving to 56 Hope Road, which is now the home of the Bob Marley Museum, The Bob Marley Theatre, The Queen of Sheba Restaurant and Things from Africa Boutique.

The company subsequently moved to 220 Marcus Garvey Drive, and includes a recording studio, mastering room, stamper room, pressing plant, cassette plant, wholesale record shop, booking agency, as well as offices for Rita Marley Music and Ghetto Youths International.

The famous Tuff Gong International studio is one of the largest Caribbean studios. Artists, musicians, producers and tourists travel from all over the world to see and use it. The studio is said to have a vibe conducive to creativity, and this may be because the mixing board in the studio is the same one used by Bob on all of his records. Additionally the mastering room gave birth to such songs as "No Woman, Nuh Cry", "Trenchtown Rock", "Stir It Up", "Concrete Jungle", "Redemption Song", "Buffalo Soldier" and "Could You Be Love", just to name a few. Since its inception, Bob Marley and Tuff Gong International have sold millions of records, and continue to do so.

In 1993, Cedella Marley of the Melody Makers became CEO of Tuff Gong International. Since her appointment, the company has opened branches in Miami and New York, and has assumed a whole new structure. Young Jamaican artists are being signed to the label and Cedella takes a personal interest to ensure their talent is nurtured into full bloom.

Tuff Gong New York is the newest branch and its focus is primarily on the marketing and promotion of Tuff Gong, Ghetto Youth and Rita Marley Music, U.S. Releases. Cedella has appointed Cassandra Goins as President of Tuff Gong International (in the New York offices).

Tuff Gong Pictures has made its debut, with Stephanie Black at the reigns. Cedella, having directed videos for Yvad and Everton Blender, will also contribute to the directorial efforts. Tuff Gong Pictures recently competed lensing on Burning Spear's "Subject in School" and Michael Rose's "Rude Boys Back in Town", for Heartbeat Records, as well as "Tune In" by Barrington Levy and Bounty Killer for Island's new Dancehall Queen soundtrack..

Tuff Gong Miami is an integral link in the company's distribution network. This branch allows for a smoother flow of international products into the Caribbean and Jamaican products to the rest of the world. Tuff Gong Miami has recently opened a vinyl records pressing plant, Marley Music Manufacturers.


TUFF GONG INTERNATIONAL is located at:

220 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 11, Jamaica W.I.
Phone: 876-5814-5 or 876-923-9380-4, Fax: 876-923-4657
E-Mail: tuffgong@toj.com

350 fifth Avenue, Suite 5101, New York, NY 10118, U.S.A.
Phone: 212-563-5173, Fax: 212-594-1594

8288 North West 68th Street, Miami, Florida 33166
Phone: 305-593-9663 or 305-593-8873, Fax: 305-503-6252
E-Mail: ALLARC@aol.com