Comedian Bob Marley has appeared on Letterman and Leno and performs around the country. He’s even planning a few shows in China.

Now he’s coming to a school near you.

Marley has become a chief fundraiser for Project Graduation. This month and next, he’ll perform benefits at 28 schools around the state, sometimes cramming in two a night before hopping on a plane for scheduled gigs around the world.

“I don’t like saying no to them,” Marley said of the fundraisers. “It’s better than 1,000 bottle drives or 100 bake sales.”

Last weekend, he did shows for high schools in Poland and Buckfield before hopping on a plane for New York City, where he performed at The Laugh Factory.

In the Bangor area, Marley has five scheduled Project Graduation benefit performances in April: for Brewer High School, Hermon High School, Hampden Academy, Dexter Regional High School, and Bucksport High School.

The teens all know the serious reasons for Project Graduation, which provides an alcohol- and drug-free celebration for graduating high school seniors. All he needs to do is make them laugh. In fact, he pokes a little fun at the idea of partying with soft drinks.

“It’s like, ‘Yeah! Ice cream sundaes!”‘

“It’s all good to me,” he said. “I don’t preach to them.”

After living for several years in Los Angeles, Marley returned to Maine six months ago.

He plans to travel only 15 weeks this year. Only two years ago, he was on the road for 38 weeks. He hopes to spend more time at home with his family in Falmouth.

But he has no plans to give up the touring life altogether. He’s constantly looking for new material as he goes about his life in Maine.

For instance, driving last month along Route 1, he glimpsed a sign selling bread pudding with “Fresh Maine Blueberries.”

“I’m thinking, ‘It’s February! How fresh are these blueberries?”‘ he said. “And what is it about adding the word ‘fresh’ that makes them more appealing?”

Project Graduation benefits that Marley will be doing in the Bangor Daily News readership area are for:

. Brewer High School – 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at Center Drive School in Orrington.

. Hermon High School – 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in the Hermon High gym.

. Bucksport High School – 8 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Bucksport Middle School.

. Dexter Regional High School – 5 p.m. Sunday, April 9, at Dexter High.

. Hampden Academy – 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, in Skehan Gymnasium at the school on Main Road.

Tickets are $15 apiece for each performance and may be purchased at the door.

Tickets for the Orrington show may be purchased in advance at The Grasshopper Shop, Bangor; Coach House Restaurant, Brewer; Paradis Shop ‘n Save, Brewer; Oriental Jade, Bangor; The Store Ampersand, Orono; or from Debbie Brooks at Brewer High School. Seating will be limited and advance ticket purchase is recommended.

For tickets to the Hermon show, contact Kathy Carmichael, 848-3772; Laurie Ross, 848-5608; or Krista Potter, 884-8533. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Tickets for the Bucksport show may be bought at BookStacks, or at the door.

Tickets for the Hampden show may be purchased at PDQ Door and Pizza Gourmet in Hampden, Molly’s in Winterport and Veazie Veterinary Clinic.

Bob Marley’s complete schedule is available at www.bmarley.com.