For the first time in close to 60 years...
Marcia Griffiths and original Wailer Beverley Kelso reunite
Published:Sunday | June 5, 2022 | 12:05 AMAnthony Turner - Sunday Gleaner Writer
“My sister Beverley! This is such a moment!” was how Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths greeted singer Beverley Kelso on stage at the Westchester Reggae Festival in Portchester, NY, last weekend, moments after she had charmed fans with her impressive catalogue of sing-along hits.
“Can you believe it that the last time I saw Beverley was in 1965? I swear to God, this is the first time I am seeing her again,” Griffiths informed reggae fans at the Capitol, who had a front-row seat to the historic reunion.
A tearful Kelso disappeared in Griffiths’s arms as the two embraced each other.
“My sister, I love you so much... . She still has her little face the same way. O my goddess!” an emotional Griffiths exclaimed to thunderous applause from patrons, many of whom were seeing Kelso in person for the first time.
Kelso’s musical journey started in 1963 at the age of 14 when her mother gave Bob Marley permission to let her join the Wailers.
“I have vivid memories of our long walks and conversations on our way to and from the studio to home. I was very young at the time, and he was protective as a big brother would be. I consider myself privileged to have known him before he became the King of Reggae,” she shared.
Kelso eventually sang on over two dozen Wailers tracks, including It Hurts To Be Alone and Lonesome Feeling. She left the group in 1965 and migrated to the United States in 1979, where she has lived since. Kelso is the only living founding member of the original Wailers, which included Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Junior Braithwaite, and Cherry Smith.
Griffiths, a former member of the iconic I-Three, who sang backup vocals for Marley for much of his solo career, has had her own decorated career of hit songs, including I Shall Sing, Dreamland, S tepping Out Of Babylon, Mellow Mood, Land Of Love, Fire Burning, and All My Life among others.
Last weekend, she was given the honour of presenting a United States Congressional Proclamation from Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke of the Ninth Congressional District in New York to Kelso.
“It is such an honour, a pleasure, and a privilege for me to present this award to you,” Griffiths declared.
In accepting the award, a tearful Kelso, glancing at the words on the proclamation, shared: “I never received this from Mr Dodd. Never get it from anybody.”
Moments later, at the insistence of Griffiths, the usually shy Kelso took the mic, and before singing a word, confessed, “It’s been quite a while I haven’t taken up the mic to sing a song, but I am gonna do something acapella.”
She then belted out the lyrics to the Marley penned It Hurts to Be Alone.
“After he breaks your heart. Then you’ll be sad. And your teardrops start. Then you’ll know how it hurts to be alone,” she confidently crooned to rapturous applause.
Later, backstage in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner, the long-time friends reminisced about yesteryear.
“I am overwhelmed!” Griffiths said about seeing Kelso.”This proves to me that God liveth and is truly here with us. Look at Beverley. It is the same person I left in 1965.”
Trying to contain her emotions, Kelso explained, “Over the years, I tried ... I tried to see each and everyone, but I did not see them. I go to shows, and I see Marcia on stage, but by the time I try to get backstage to see her, it never happened.”
“Are you serious?” Griffiths asked between hugs. “Yuh know how much I would have loved to have seen you.”