Marcia Griffiths ‘truly thankful’ for OJ
Published:Monday | October 16, 2023 | 12:07 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Today, foundation singer Marcia Griffiths, who is celebrating nearly 60 years in the music business, will be called to order one more time, and she is ecstatic. The Reggae Queen will be officially inducted into the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the island’s fourth-highest honour, for her outstanding contributions to music. She received the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2014, when she was celebrating 50 years in the music business.
Recently completing a tour of Japan, and prior to that, Europe, the veteran singer is one of the hardest working acts in reggae music, and what makes her sojourns across the globe to satisfy the souls of her fans even more praiseworthy, is that she has a fear of flying. But Griffiths’ mantra is that “the show must go on”, and every time she boards a plane, she tries to pack away the jitters and focus on the end of the journey. She praised her fans for being her greatest motivators.
“If it wasn’t for them I would not be motivated to continue. Sometimes you are out there on stage giving your all, knowing that you are not going to receive a cent in payment because you already hear the hard luck story from the promoter. Nobody has a clue how much I appreciate the fans who stick with me and support me. So money or no money, once I turn up for a show, I am going to perform,” said Griffiths, who was one-third of Bob Marley’s harmony singers, the I-Three.
Giving an example of how she and her fans relate, Griffiths shared that while in Germany, she met up again with two fans – a husband and wife – who she had met five years ago. This time around, they were accompanied by their daughter, who they named Marcia in her honour.
“The lady was crying. When I last saw them she told me that she really wanted to have a baby, and I told her that she would get pregnant ... and she did. The little girl hugged me like she knew me ... she wouldn’t let me go. God has preserved me to see 60 years in the business, and I have no doubt that He put me here for a purpose. I am out there consistently doing what God put me out there to do,” Griffiths declared.
Commenting on the Order of Jamaica, which she will receive at King’s House this morning, Griffiths said that she was “truly thankful and pleasantly surprised”.
“It pays to sow good seeds. All I can say is that I am glad I am alive, because they always say that these accolades are given to people when they are dead,” Griffiths added.
Having gained the reputation as a fashion icon, Griffiths is ready to roll out in fine style at the Investiture ceremony. Her team, however, is keeping the design close to the chest, but somewhere in her regal attire will be a red hat.
Marcia Griffiths started singing professionally in 1964 for the Byron Lee and the Dragonaires band. Her recording years started soon after at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One, where she recorded her first hit, Feel Like Jumping, which is today one of the many classics in her catalogue.
She was one-half of the dynamic vocal duo, Bob (Andy) and Marcia. They had a No. 5 UK hit single in 1970 with Young, Gifted and Black, which they followed up with Pied Piper, which peaked at No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart in 1971.
Her latest album, Golden, was released on September 8. The 11-song set is co-produced by Kemist Music and Donsome Records.
Thirteen individuals will be recognised in the fields of music, arts and culture for 2023. In entertainment, the honourees are Marcia Griffiths, Owen Gray, Tarrus Riley and Wayne Marshall.