"I shall sing, as long as I live. As long as I live, I shall sing!" ~Marcia
Griffiths 


REGGAE QUEEN MARCIA GRIFFITHS 
By I. Jabulani Tafari 

Linneth Marcia Griffiths is a born and bred Kingstonian. She was born and
bred to sing by her father, who was himself a singer. Marcia's precocious
talent was recognized very early by producers Clement `Coxsone' Dodd and
Byron Lee, who were said to be competing for her father's signature on a
recording contract even before she was 10. Coxsone won the competition and
his legendary Studio One and its `downbeat' rhythms became her "musical
college". It was there at Brentford Road, near Cross Roads, that Griffiths
achieved her first Jamaican # 1 in 1968 with the Rock Steady hit "Feel Like
Jumping". But we're getting too far ahead of ourselves. Let's start again. 

37 years ago on Easter Monday 1964, a 12-year old Marcia Griffiths hit the
stage -a big stage- for the first time at the Carib Theater in Cross Roads,
Kingston, singing with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. After that, she
opened shows in Jamaica for Carla Thomas, Betty Wright and Ben E. King
among others. Since those vintage days, music has been her life and she has
risen to the top of Rock Steady and Reggae Charts in Jamaica, and to the
pinnacle of charts all over the world. She has spent all of her
professional life on big stages all over the world -or behind a microphone
singing in recording studios. The November-born Marcia received Jamaica's
Order of Distinction (OD) award in 1994 for excellence in music, and the
year 2001 finds her still excelling and working as hard as ever on stages
all over the globe. Now, just as much as then, stage shows are her
day-to-day bread-and-butter. 

Accordingly, her summer 2001 performance schedule is busy and calls for
Marcia to tour the Caribbean with Beres Hammond from June through to
September 2001. In between those dates, the Reggae Queen also has gigs
scheduled in Canada; there are 10 shows booked in England for her to appear
as part of the I-Threes; and also a number of solo dates in France. One of
the performance projects near and dear to her heart that Marcia is trying
to accomplish, either this year or as soon as possible, is to do a show
with the Byron Lee band backing both her and everyone that she has ever
sung with -whether as a duo, a trio, or even a quartet. That encompasses an
extraordinarily long list of Jamaica's leading singers including Bob Andy,
Beres Hammond, Coco Tea and Buju Banton. 

The Reggae Queen has over a dozen albums to her credit, countless singles,
and has vocal credits on a wide array of other people's recordings. When
she sang with Bob Marley and the Wailers, her name was right there among
the credits for most of the all-time best selling Reggae recordings ever.
No wonder then, that Marcia is admired and imitated by so many of the
younger generation of female singers. She has been and is still setting
standards. Take her lyrics. She is very particular about the words she
sings and is into Message Music big time. But besides penning and
co-writing her own compositions, she has always been fortunate to get songs
from some of the best lyricists in the Reggae business: including Bob Andy,
Mikey Bennet, Hopeton Lindo, Annette Brissett and of course, Beres Hammond.

That is why you have to listen to Marcia Griffiths carefully. She is
singing hard hitting, relevant songs with words like: "Talking to the wives
of evil men, How do you do it? Eat, drink, sleep with a man, Who's got
blood on his hands. Talking to the wives of serial killers, How do you
feel? When he holds you and touch you, Are you for real?" ("Evil Men's
Wives"). Then there was her duet with Beres Hammond on "Should I Sing" for
Harmony House: "I've been singing my heart out, Singing for all these
years, Because I love my people, I've been singing through blood, sweat and
tears, Thought I was doing right, Spreading the message around, Trying to
get my people to come together, Stand in love with one another. Wonder
should I sing another love song? Till I understand what's going on. What if
we decide not to sing another line, Would the people come together?"

These reality lyrics speak for themselves and for Marcia too. So take heed
when the Reggae Queen sings, "We'll be forever loving Jah," in combination
with long-time Penthouse label mate Tony Rebel. This brand new re-make of
the Bob Marley standard, in tandem with an ace DJ, illustrates Ms.
Griffiths currency in the modern Reggae business. She's still right up
there on top of her game after 37 years, working with the right people,
singing conscious lyrics, over good, strong rootz riddims. The same can be
said for Marcia's Reggae re-make of the old Righteous Brothers classic,
"You've Lost That Loving Feeling" -a recent Penthouse 2001 release. Once
again, it aptly illustrates her enduring class and vocal durability.

It seems Marcia is always working or teaming up with a lot of younger and
newer talent, so I asked her what that is like, and why? She says she loves
working with youngsters and it makes her elated and gives her a warm
feeling to know that young artists want to work with her. She said she
never ceases to experiment with newer artists and noted that DJ's always
want to do combinations with her. Marcia also disclosed that she has had
lots of suggestions for her to remix "Electric Boogie" in a Hip Hop style
and said she is just looking for the right artists to work with on that
project. "Electric Boogie" was a Bunny Wailer original that became a big
hit for Marcia, particularly in the USA in 1989 -seven years after it was
initially recorded. The track, which Marcia did together with Bunny Wailer,
even inspired its own accompanying dance -the Electric Slide- which is
still a big thing, particularly in Black America. In the meantime, the
Reggae Queen has been in studio for the past few months in Jamaica working
on a new album, which she is personally involved with co-producing along
with Clive Hunt of Tuff Gong and Mixing Lab fame. Marcia says that
hopefully this new album will be ready by the Fall of 2001. 

Marcia Griffiths grew up listening to and admiring singers like Aretha
Franklin, Carla Thomas and Deon Warwick. She remembers that there were not
many female singers in Jamaica when she started her career, but cites the
late Hortense Ellis (sister to Alton Ellis) as one of the local singers she
admired. For her part, the young Jamaican born songbird became a singing
star and household name as a soloist in Jamaica long before she teamed up
with Rita and Judy, to record hit records and to tour the world performing
with Reggae legend Bob Marley. Over the years Marcia has built up a long
list of memorable solo hits, including, "Feel Like Jumping" (written by
Jackie Mittoo), Melody Life", "Mark My Word", (written by Bob Andy),
Truly", "Really Together" and "Dreamland" (written by Bunny Wailer). 

The early 1970's Reggaefied re-make by Marcia and Bob Andy of the Nina
Simone hit -"Young, Gifted & Black"- made Marcia Griffiths into a household
name throughout the Caribbean and Europe. Produced by Harry J, the Reggae
version of "Young, Gifted And Black" touched a nerve with UK buyers,
particularly among the Reggae-obsessed skinhead audience. The record's
popularity ensured it crossover success and it rode high in the UK charts
in 1970 before becoming a hit all over Europe. Marcia and Bob Andy
followed-up with "Pied Piper" in 1971, an equally pop market-oriented song
that also became a big hit in the UK. 

Marcia made some beautiful records for Sonia Pottinger's High Note label
during that time and in 1975, she became one of Bob Marley's I-Threes
backing vocalists, together with Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt - who were all
recruited to fill the vocal gap left by the departure from the Wailers of
Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. For the remainder of the 1970's and on into
the '80s she recorded and toured with Bob Marley & the Wailers.

Since the passing of the Reggae Maestro in May 1981 and the breakup of the
Wailers Band as it used to be, Marcia has returned to an even more
extensive and successful solo career. "Stepping Out Of Babylon" and "Fire
Burning" (also written by Bob Andy) are just two more of the continuing
hits that she had. Thus, by the early 1990's, she had also become a
household name in Black America too, thanks to "Electric Boogie". Due to
her well known talent, her proven professionalism and her outstanding track
record of hits, Marcia is still always busy and still always in high
demand.

Ms. Griffiths was reintroduced to countless thousands last year as she
toured the US with the new-look Wailers. And this year, one of her biggest
appearances so far for 2001 was at the Bob Marley Day/Raggamuffin Festival
in California in February. While there, she also attended and performed at
the official opening of Roger Steffens' Bob Marley Exhibit at Long Beach.
"Very, very interesting." Is how she describes the exhibition, adding that,
"It should be permanent." Marcia says the Marley exhibition contained "a
whole lot of history", noting that she saw things in it that she had
forgotten about. She further suggests that a replica of this exhibit should
be on show in Jamaica. 

Does Marcia Griffiths have dreadlocks? No, she never did. But many people
who have always seen her in a headwrap, have always pondered that question.
They never knew the answer for sure, because of the cultural way in which
the Reggae Queen carries herself and because of the spiritual image which
she projects. Marcia has been immersed in Rootz Rock Muzik since the days
of Ska, through the Rock Steady era, right up to the present day Rootz
Reggae. And she has always been around the Rastafari artists and musicians
who formed the hardcore of the Rootz Muzik industry since the early days.
In addition, most of the important men in her personal life have been, or
are Rastafari brethren. 

Touring the world with Bob Marley, the Wailers and the I-Threes, further
cemented her title of Reggae Queen into the consciousness of
Reggae/Rastafari fans internationally. Since Judy Mowatt stopped singing
the kind of cultural songs she used to sing and converted to 'traditional
Jamaican christianity'; and because Rita Marley seems to have put her
recording/performing career on hold for the most part; Marcia has become a
virtual I-One, as the sole remaining I-Three that still maintains her
original vibe, still records and performs Rootz Reggae as prolifically as
usual, and still projects a cultural/Rastafari type of livity and humility.
Therefore, she is without doubt the Queen of Reggae, with no real
competitors in sight.

When asked about dreadlocks and Rastafari, Marcia says she can't believe
that people are still using hair to identify others. She points out that
originally, dreadlocks represented a covenant with the Creator, but that
now, dreadlocks have become a style and fashion statement for some people.
Recalling that Bob Andy was the first Rastaman she knew really well, Marcia
emphasizes that the true Rastafari disciples practice upfull living, give
praises to the Almighty and live clean. And noting that one does not have
to wear dreadlocks to be Rasta in your heart and mind, the Reggae Queen
says, "I try to walk the way the Rastaman and Rastawoman live." 

Marcia says she is very much aware of how much a lot of younger Rasta
sistaz now-a-days look up to her as a role model on stage. as a role model
within the Reggae Kulcha. and as a role model just as a woman. Marcia
attributes the respect and adulation she receives to the kind of life she
lives: "Is not garments and hair. Is livity, what you do. Works!" Fan
appreciation, not money, has been the biggest satisfaction that she has
received from her career. The Reggae Queen says she meets young sistaz all
the time, who give her various compliments, and says these young sistaz are
indeed her strength. She notes that Sister Carol is one of her biggest fans
and says that Mother Culture never fails to remind her that it is she
(Marcia) who inspired her (Carol). Marcia says that when she feels down and
she hears comments like these from Sister Carol and other young sistaz, it
rejuvenates her to give more of herself. A thankful Reggae Queen says "As
long as God preserves me, I will continue to feed all of their souls
through my music and make them happy. And I wish I could do more." 

Today, Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths is arguably the most consistently
successful female vocalist in the history of Reggae music, having recorded
in every one of the myriad of styles of Jamaican music, from Ska through to
a modern-day Reggae-Rap crossover record. So what has 37 years in the
business taught her? "Truth and Reality! Me not perfect, but I strive for
perfection. Everyday I check myself" She says three decades in the business
makes one tough and she has gained spiritual strength from the experience.
She says that music has taught her so many things, that words can't even
express. Kind and encouraging words from virtually every modern day female
singer in Jamaica or the Reggae industry, warms her heart and touches her
deeply, giving her true satisfaction that goes beyond money. 

She laments the fact that Gospel is one of the most commercial forms of
music today. She recalls the old saying: "Nearer to church, further from
God" and emphasizes that she was born into true Christianity and not into
Babylon's version of that religion. That's why she maintains that she is
truly blessed: "When you have a God-given talent, you are definitely chosen
for a work. It's not just entertainment. It's deeper than that! Give thanks
that I am chosen." Sure you're right, Marcia! Sure you're right! You were
indeed born to sing and born to be the Queen of Reggae Queens.