Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, who this year celebrates 61 years in the music industry, has had a career that began with her groundbreaking work at Studio One in the 1960s with classics like Feel Like Jumping to being a part of the I-Threes, and touring the world with Bob Marley & The Wailers, to her 1989 smash Electric Boogie that sparked the global dance craze known as the Electric Slide.
When asked to choose her favorite performance from such a storied career, she laughs, saying, “All I can say is, after 61 years, it’s hard to just pick one performance as my favorite. Every performance is different — different energy, different vibe. You get different experiences from different shows, and that’s what makes it so wonderful. It’s not just walking out on a stage; it’s a new energy every night,” she shared.
Part of what keeps her timeless and her youthful good looks, she believes, is more than just diet or exercise — it’s an inner glow.
“What you eat is important, but the thoughts and the liberty are more important,” she explains. “It’s just a reflection from what is within. Your lifestyle, your thoughts — everything combined together makes it worthwhile and gives good results.”
Her stage presence is equally shaped by her personal touch. Griffiths often selects her own stage outfits, using fashion as a way to connect with her heritage and her fans.
“Two days before Jamaica’s Independence, I performed at the Reggae Land Festival, and I just wanted to represent my country, so I dressed in the colors of Jamaica — and believe me, the energy was up, and the people just loved it,” she disclosed.
Marcia will unite with Beres Hammond, Cham, and Lady Da Flame for two nights billed “Beres Hammond & Friends” concert series in the Tri-state. The shows will take place August 16 at NJPAC in Newark, NJ, and August 17 at the Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, NY, blending the soulful rhythms of lovers rock, the timeless legacy of reggae, and the high-energy pulse of dancehall.
For the “Queen of Reggae,” this performance isn’t just another date on her calendar — it’s a moment to connect deeply with a city and an audience that has embraced her for decades.
“I have a very special love for my audience in New York,” Griffiths told Caribbean National Weekly. “I don’t know what it is but there’s something about my audience there. I look forward to meeting them. These are some special moments when I talk about going on stage and being rejuvenated from the energy and vibration from the audience — this is one of the places I know I’m guaranteed to get that.”
Asked about her long friendship with Hammond, Marcia shared, “That’s a very special person to me. I believe I knew him in another life,” she says warmly. “The chemistry is always right — in the studio, on stage, or just having a discussion. We’re always laughing nonstop. I often wonder how he writes lyrics that match things I’m experiencing without even knowing — it’s truly special.”
The evening in New York will also be special for another reason — she’ll be performing alongside Tafari Thompson, aka Taf, her son with deceased radio jock Errol ‘ET’ Thompson.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to share the stage with your child. It’s one of the most wonderful feelings, especially when you know they’re talented too.”
With Cham bringing his dancehall fire and Beres Hammond delivering his signature lovers rock soul, Marcia Griffiths’ presence ensures the concert will be a celebration of Jamaican music across generations. The night promises not just a performance, but a piece of reggae history — delivered by a woman whose mission has never changed.
“If you can touch the soul with the music,” Griffiths says, “then you know that is mission accomplished.”
