Marcia Griffiths

Marcia Griffiths
File:Bob Marley I Threes.jpg Marcia Griffiths (right) with the I Threes
Background information
Birth name	Marcia Llyneth Griffiths
Born	(1949-11-23) 23 November 1949 Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae Roots reggae
Occupation(s)	Vocalist
Years active	1964–present
Associated acts	The Wailers I Threes Bob and Marcia

Marcia Llyneth Griffiths CD (born 23 November 1949) is a successful Jamaican female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her by noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".

Biography

Born in West Kingston, Jamaica, Griffiths started her career in 1964, performing on stage with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires at the behest of Phillip James of The Blues Busters, who had heard her singing in her home neighbourhood. Her performance was sufficiently impressive that the following day Ronnie Nasralla and Clement Dodd both offered her recording contracts. She chose to record for Dodd's Studio One label, where she recorded a series of duets with male singers such as Tony Gregory ("You're Mine"), Bob Marley ("Oh My Darling"), Jeff Dixon ("Words"), and Bob Andy ("Always Together"), with whom she would have a relationship lasting several years. In 1968 she had her first success as a solo artist, with "Feel Like Jumping", which like her other early Studio One solo hits (including "Truly" and "Melody Life"), were written by Andy.

From 1970 to 1974 she worked together with Bob Andy as a duo (Bob and Marcia), on the Harry J label. She also recorded for Lloyd Charmers.

Between 1974 and 1981 she was a member of the I Threes, a trio of backing singers, which supported Bob Marley & the Wailers. She continued to record as a solo artist throughout the 1970s, working with producers such as Sonia Pottinger, and Joseph Hoo Kim.

Her 1989 re-recording of the Bunny Wailer song "Electric Boogie," originally released in 1976, made the Electric Slide, a line dance, an international dance craze. It reached number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it her most successful single. It remains the highest-selling single by a female reggae singer of all time. She has more recently had further hits with producer Donovan Germain.

She had two children with JBC disc jockey Errol Thompson, and raised them alone after his death in 1983.

A Brazillian documentary film about Griffiths, Reggae Meets Samba, was in production as of December 2013.

In January 2014 she announced that as part of her fifitieth year in the music business she would be releasing an album of cover versions, Songs That Inspire Me, Songs I Love to Sing, recorded with Germain.

In August 2014 it was announced that Griffiths would received the Jamaican Order of Distinction (Commander class) in October that year.

Discography

• Sweet Bitter Love (1974)
• Naturally (1978)
• Steppin (1979)
• Rock My Soul (1984)
• Marcia (1988)
• Carousel (1990)
• Indomitable (1995)
• Land Of Love (1997)
• Collectors Series (1998)
• Truly (1998)
• Certified (1999)
• Reggae Max (2003)
• Shining Time (2005)
• Melody Life (2007)
• Marcia Griffiths & Friends (2012)

External links

• Marvin Sparks, "Marcia Griffiths remembers Bob Marley on 30th anniversary of passing | Interview", Soul Culture, 11 May 2011.