Marcia Griffiths, Wayne Marshall humbled to be called to Order

It was celebration time on the lawns of King’s House on National Heroes Day as recipients of honours and awards, along with family and close friends, gathered to witness a usually once-in-a-lifetime moment. Among those in attendance as recipients were legendary reggae singer Marcia Griffiths and Wayne Marshall.

Always impeccably attired for any and every occasion, Griffiths had every reason to smile as she accepted her Order of Jamaica at King’s House on Monday. The Reggae Queen was feeling “on top of the world”, having been upgraded from an Order of Distinction to an Order of Jamaica.

“This is a special moment for me, and I give God all the thanks. He is the One who is in control. I am overwhelmed, feeling on top of the world, thankful and grateful. I am singing music for the world ... it is all about upliftment and teaching. I have no doubt that I am on a mission from God, and I am glad to be chosen,” Griffiths told The Gleaner.

The iconic singer, who has been in the music business for 60 years, recently released a new album, Golden, which is being considered for a Grammy Award, shared a gem from a friend. “Someone said something to me last night ... ‘The great thing is that you are not being bestowed with an order, it is earned’. As for the album, well, you know, I am not even considering anything. Whatever God has in store, I am thankful,” Griffiths said.

Quizzed about what she would want this generation of singers to hold sacred, Griffiths emphasised that humility is a virtue that is necessary to positive growth and development as well as the need to stay consistent.

“My advice to this generation who is entering the music is this: Have some humility, you will have longevity. If I didn’t have that, I would not be here today doing what I am doing, working with this generation and being consistent.”

She added: “It’s not about hype and the rest of the follies ... you are on a mission. Music is life, and it is the only vehicle that we have to send messages to the world. And as long as it’s clean and positive so mankind can benefit from what they are sending, that is longevity.”

Writing her own prescription, Marcia Griffiths noted, “ Music touches souls and it touches hearts, which is something that no doctor can do.”

Mitchell filled with gratitude

Wayne Mitchell, better known as Wayne Marshall, was in high spirits, and like the Reggae Queen, he was filled with gratitude at being honoured by the Government. He, too, emphasised the need for persons in the entertainment field to be consistent. His wife, Tami, pointed out that despite his age, he has been doing music for all of 25 years.

“I am feeling grateful, honoured, blessed, humbled ... all those words. The family is here. Just to have them here to witness this is a great moment for me because I want them to strive for greatness, no matter what. As a young boy coming into the dancehall world, I would never have though that the lawns of King’s House would be the destination at this stage ... and here I am. This just goes to show that no matter what your path is, as long as you stick to it, stay consistent, stay true and maintain integrity as a man, you will attain high heights,” Wayne Marshall said.

Marshall was surrounded by family – two of his sons, Giomar and Jaxen, his wife, Tami, his mother, his father-in-law, his brother, as well as several members of his musical family. He, too, had a message for young artistes.

“Stay true to music. Music is not man-made. It is of the cosmos and of God, so there must be an aspect of it that you obey a spiritual path. I have tried to stay true to my creative process, stay true to the inspiration that brings the ideas to me, which is bigger than me. Music is what we do ... not dancehall or reggae,” Wayne Marshall emphasised.

A beaming Tami Chin Mitchell was bursting with pride.

“I feel very proud ... really happy that after 25 years in music for Wayne, he is being recognised for that. Not just his contribution ... but his good contribution to the industry,” said Tami, who has created a niche on social media with her family through the series Meet the Mitchells.

Was she expecting Wayne to receive an OD?

“No ... not at all. I think with things like this you expect that they happen so much later on in life ... and it’s nice that he is recognised now and not 40 years from now. I am really happy. I think that it is important for other young men to see. I can’t believe that he has had a career span of 25 years at only 43. And that’s because he started young and he kept going,” she added.

One hundred and twenty-six persons received national honours and awards on Heroes Day, including reggae crooner Tarrus Riley who, like Wayne Marshall, was inducted into the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com