On Sunday, May 12, the Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths will celebrate 60 years in the music business in Miramar, Florida, at the Voice of the Caribbean event.
Griffiths is a pioneering figure in the world of reggae music, and has solidified her status as one of the most legendary artists of the genre.
Born in West Kingston, Jamaica, Griffiths embarked on her musical journey in 1964, catching the attention of industry insiders with her captivating performances alongside Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. Her talent quickly garnered recognition, leading to recording contracts with renowned labels such as Clement Dodd’s Studio One.
During her early years, Griffiths collaborated with esteemed artists like Bob Marley and Bob Andy, producing a string of hits including “Feel Like Jumping” and “Oh My Darling.” In 1970, she joined forces with Bob Andy to form the duo, Bob and Marcia, showcasing their remarkable chemistry on tracks released under the Harry J label.
Griffiths’ career reached new heights when she became a pivotal member of the I Threes, the legendary trio of backing vocalists who supported Bob Marley & the Wailers from 1974 to 1981. Despite her commitments to the group, she continued to pursue solo endeavors, working with esteemed producers like Sonia Pottinger and Joseph Hoo Kim throughout the 1970s.
In 1983, she released her re-recording of the Bunny Wailer song “Electric Boogie”, originally recorded and released by Wailer in 1976. Although the 1983 version became a minor hit for Griffiths, the song was remixed in 1989, and it was this version that 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 is currently the highest-selling single by a female reggae singer of all time. She has more recently had further hits with producer Donovan Germain.
Beyond her solo ventures, Griffiths has made significant contributions to collaborative projects, notably featuring on Toots and the Maytals’ Grammy-winning album “True Love” in 2004. Griffiths appeared in the 2011 documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which was featured on BBC and described as “The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica.”
In January 2014, she announced that as part of her fiftieth year in the music business, she would be releasing an album of her favorite songs by other artists, Songs That Inspire Me, Songs I Love to Sing, recorded with Germain.
Marcia Griffiths, OJ OD
Her dynamic presence in the music industry has also been recognized through prestigious accolades such as the Jamaican Order of Distinction (Commander class) in 2018 and the Order of Jamaica (OJ) in 2023, underscoring her enduring impact and influence.
She also had two children with JBC disc jockey Errol Thompson, and raised them alone after his death in 1983.
Throughout her career, Griffiths has remained committed to her craft, continually reinventing herself and inspiring audiences worldwide with her soulful vocals and timeless music. As she celebrates 60 years in the music business with a concert in Miramar, Florida, surrounded by fellow artists like Busy Signal, Ky-Mani Marley, Freddie McGregor, and Tanya Stephens, it’s a testament to her enduring legacy and unwavering passion for reggae music.
Read: Marcia Griffiths and friends to celebrate 60 years with concert in Miramar
