Marcia Griffiths ‘joyful’ ahead of tonight’s celebration of remarkable 60-year journey

Marcia Griffiths has recorded more songs than she can possibly remember, and while it is no easy task for her to choose which one has been the soundtrack to her life, she has many favourites, both as a solo artiste and doing duets with some of reggae music’s biggest names.

From the depths of West Kingston, Griffiths started honing her skills in the year 1964, and all she knew was that she wanted to sing, or as she would later say in one of her songs, “ I shall sing as long as I live, as long as I live, I shall sing.”

Hailed as the Queen of Reggae, Griffiths has dominated the music scene for an impressive and exhilarating 60 years, and when she takes to the stage at Hope Gardens this evening, she predicts that it will be a glorious celebration of the challenges, the struggles, and most of all, the joy of being one of the genre’s greatest ambassadors to have ever done it.

According to her Wikipedia bio, Griffiths started performing on stage with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires at the request of Phillip James of The Blues Busters, who had heard her sing. Following an impressive performance, she was approached by both Ronnie Nasralla and Clement Dodd to sign recording contracts. The teenager chose Dodd’s Studio One label, and there she recorded a number of duets with Tony Gregory ( You’re Mine), Bob Marley ( Oh My Darling), Jeff Dixon ( Words), and Bob Andy ( Always Together), with whom she would have a long relationship and make waves as the duo Bob and Marcia. In 1968, she had her first success as a solo artiste with Feel Like Jumping, which, like her other early Studio One solo hits (including Truly and Melody Life), were written by Andy.

Griffiths, who was awarded the Order of Jamaica in 2023, also made an indelible impact as one-third of the iconic group the I-Three, which travelled across the world as Bob Marley’s backup singers, or his three little birds, as Griffiths is quoted as saying.

The Sunday Gleaner recently had a sit-down with the Queen of Reggae.

1. You have often hailed your fans as your greatest inspiration to continue your journey even when the promoter has no money to pay you. Share with us the story of the childless couple who you prayed for, and a miracle happened.

I did a show in Europe years ago, and I met this couple who was married, and the woman’s greatest wish was to have a child. I sat with them and said a little prayer … you know I said, ‘Lord, you told us to go and replenish the Earth, and I’m asking you to bless this couple’. Well, five years later, I was in Europe again, and coming off stage, I saw two people standing at the side of the stage, and I was [encouraged] to stop. It was the same couple, and they had a little daughter. The mother was just crying. The father told me that after meeting me, she got pregnant. And … I tell you, that little girl stretched from her father’s hand and came to me and hugged me like she knew me. I felt the warmth ... it was such a beautiful experience.

2. Your journey is the stuff of which great documentaries are made. Is anything like that in the pipeline?

My journey has to be recorded, and it will be. Even this concert tonight, this is a moment that we cannot allow to go to waste. I have had some beautiful memories, and it’s just a pity that I will not be able to do songs with all 50 artistes who I have collaborated with.

3. How excited are you about celebrating your 60th anniversary?

I am extremely thankful knowing that I have lived and survived to celebrate this milestone, and God has preserved me to be still doing the things I love to do. I am really very joyful.

4. How do you feel about the iconic I-Three and others who were integral to your mission not being able to perform on this grand occasion?

There is nothing that I would love more than to have Sister Judy and Sister Rita on stage with me. We are family ... we have a lot of love for each other, and we cherish our relationship. I am sad that many of the persons who I have shared my journey with are no longer around … people like Bob Andy, Bob Marley, Mr Dodd, Byron Lee, Phillip James of the Blues Busters, who discovered me, and, of course, my father, Joseph Griffith, who supported me from the very beginning.

5. Tell us three of your favourite songs from your own catalogue.

That is a tough one … there are so many songs. Stepping Outta Babylon, Survival, Really Together with Bob Andy, and I have to put Melody Life in there as well.

6. What would people be surprised to know about Marcia Griffiths?

They would be surprised to know just how much I love the kitchen. The few people who know me really well know that I love to cook. I love to experiment with all kinds of healthy food and different kinds of vegetables and stuff like that. Especially when you are my age, you have to eat right. I also make a lot of juices … I pick the soursop from my garden, and I make juice … things like that. Friends love to come over because they know that I am always cooking up something healthy and tasty. Sometimes, my son will say, ‘Mummy, you can’t come out of the kitchen?’ My mother was a great cook, and we all take it from her. My sister has 11 children, and every one of them can cook … even their ‘dolly pot’ was tempting.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com