Marcia Griffiths
Queen Of Reggae

Marcia Griffiths is one of Jamaica's top reggae artists, that started her career as a singer at an early age and is continuing today with great success worldwide.  Her outstanding voice was discovered by Phillip "Boasie" James. 

In the over forty years of singing she has had many great hits like "Electric Boogie", a song which created a popular dance at that time.

Born on November 23, 1949, in West Kingston and started singing in church choirs and school plays.

Any opportunity to perform was great, even singing with friends outside her house.

Her passion for music, singing whenever possible, these are the thing that made Philip "Boasie" James took notice of her.  He was the lead singer for the Blues Busters.

Thanks to him she was given the opportunity to perform on a talent show.  She was just fifteen years old.

The audience loved her and insisted that she sing another song.  But that was the only song the band had rehearsed.

Now her concerts are a sold out event.  I have been to a couple of her concerts.

I have attend one of her concerts with Beres Hammond, another with Sly and Robbie.  One of her sons, travels and performs with her. 

They were great. 

If you should ever get the chance to attend one of her live performance go, you will not be disappointed.

Marcia's Music Journey

After her performance at Talent show, everyone wanted to be her manager.  Even Ronnie Nasralla who managed Byron Lee at that time.

Marcia was now a real overnight success story.

Studio One

This was the place where she met many other reggae artists stars like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Rita Marley.

Songs like "Melody Life" and "Truly" were recorded under Studio One's label.

In one of her interviews she called Studio One "the college of Reggae", a bitter sweet start.  She also declared that then they didn't have any experience in the business and the production company took a huge chunk of their earnings.

She had sold to them many copyrights, so even if her music was very popular and selling a lot, she hadn't much to gain in terms of money.

A Successful Duo

In 1970 she and Bob Andy created a successful duo.

The first song ever recorded by them is "Really Together" one of the track on Marcia Griffiths: Collectors Series, which was the beginning of a lasting professional relationship.

They moved to Harry J Label where they recorded "Young Gifted and Black", an international success, that occupied a place in the top five U.K.  Two more albums followed after that.

But this strong ambitious woman didn't stop there.

Her Solo Career

In the 70's she started her solo career, and this time was more powerful than before, under the producer Sonia Pottinger.

In the world of Reggae, which was male dominated, she still had a strong position as one of the few women courageous enough to sing this king music.

She released two albums: "Naturally" and "Stepping".

Ten years after her debut her career took another turn.

She was co-opted in the I-Threes, then a background singing group for Bob Marley, as a step forward for her.

After Bob Marley and The Wailers split the empty place was filled by three charming women:  Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley, and Marcia Griffiths.

Even though she states that this experienced marked her in many ways, she never gave up her solo career.

She continued to performed with Bob Marley until his death.

Her Successful Music Hits

Marcia Griffiths, the female reggae vocalist of all times, has had major international success since 1989 with the re-released song "Electric Boogie".

The hit entered US Billboard Hot 100 and occupied the first place on the Jamaican charts.

Even today it still is one of the best selling Reggae single performed by a woman.

Thanks to a flourishing career of over forty years her title still remains secure, "The Queen Of Reggae".

Return From Marcia Griffiths To Reggae Artists

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