The cream of Jamaica’s corporate sector mingled with reggae industry bigwigs at the launch of Marcia Griffiths And Friends last September. Griffiths, star of that event, held court in the packed suite in New Kingston, Jamaica’s leading financial district.
The Marcia Griffiths And Friends event is scheduled for scenic Hope Gardens in the Jamaican capital on November 3. It celebrates the evergreen singer’s 60th anniversary in the music business and features a bevy of guest stars including Shaggy, Tanya Stephens, Busy Signal, Nadine Sutherland, Ras Shiloh, Cutty Ranks and Tony Gregory.
They will be backed by the Jamaica All Stars Band, led by saxophonist Dean Fraser.
“It’s going to be a show to remember; the fans are going to get something they never experienced before. Pretty much like what we did in Miramar,” Griffiths told World A Reggae.
The Miramar gig took place in that South Florida city on Mother’s Day. Griffiths, 75, was accompanied by a star-studded lineup that included Singer J, Yeshemabeth, Shuga, Freddie McGregor, Ky-Mani Marley, Da’Ville, Cutty Ranks and Shaggy who flew in from Dubai.
Like that show, she is expected to perform songs synonymous with her lengthy career at the Jamaica leg. Those are Feel Like Jumping, Dreamland, Steppin’ Outa Babylon, Electric Boogie, I Shall Sing and Fire Burning.
“They’re going to see and hear my journey, from the ‘60s when I sang with people like Tony Gregory and at Studio One where I worked with Bob Andy. It’s going to be really exciting, I promise,” Griffiths disclosed.
Marcia Griffiths’ journey started in West Kingston, which is also the hometown of Ken Boothe, Gregory Isaacs and The Techniques. Her recording career started in 1964 at Studio One where Andy, her mentor and lover, was a solo artiste.
At Studio One, Griffiths soared with Andy-written songs like Melody Life, Feel Like Jumping, Mark my Word and Really Together, which they sang together. They also had a big hit single for producer Harry ‘Harry J’ Johnson with their cover of Nina Simone’s To be Young, Gifted And Black (their version was Young, Gifted And Black) which went to number five in 1970 on the British pop chart.
During the 1970s, Griffiths established herself as a formidable artiste, recording outstanding songs such as Dreamland and Steppin’ Outa Babylon. She was also a member of The I Three, Bob Marley’s harmony group which also included his wife Rita and Judy Mowatt.
Her biggest hit, Electric Boogie, was written and produced by Bunny Wailer. Released in 1983, it remains a focal point of live shows and many parties.
As dancehall music took off in the 1990s, Griffiths enjoyed a career resurgence at Penthouse Records with producer Donovan Germain. Her hits during that period include I Shall Sing, a cover of Fire Burning and Live On, a collaboration with Beres Hammond.
On October 25 Penthouse Records released the compilation album “Friends of Marcia Griffiths celebrating 60 Years” with songs by a.o. Nadine Sutherland, Pam Hall, Nikki Burt, Adele Harley, Shereita Lewis, AJ Brown, Alaine and many others.
By Howard Campbell
