Griffiths
Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
TODAY, MARCIA Griffiths looks great in body hugging, red top, and we are sceptical as she claims to be suffering from sleep loss/fatigue.
But, she is having a busy year. Marcia, dubbed the reigning "Queen of Reggae" is about to launch the biggest promotion of her career, an entire year of celebration marking her 40th anniversary. It's a good thing that she has always cared for herself.
"Exercise is vital," she says speaking about her health regime. "I try to eat right and take my vitamins," she reveals. In the garden-like Ashanti restaurant where we meet, she sips cold water which she prefers with vitamin C powder.
The year has had a great start. Griffiths has performed to a sold out audience in London with Freddie McGregor and George Nooks on the line-up.
Esteem
"It was very overwhelming. The great esteem shown...."
Another special moment for her was the United Nations "Woman of Esteem Award" received in early March.
The singing teenager has come a long way.
Marcia Griffiths was born and raised in West Kingston with two other sisters and brothers. Her father was a carpenter and a very good singer. Mother was a dressmaker.
"That's how I started designing things," Marcia says. "From eight years old I would get pieces of material and just drape them."
The singer claims a very humble and religious family. St. John's United Church was right across the road. The children of the family sang in the church choir.
But, her father would get very upset at the idea of her singing for career. "He wanted me to do teaching or anything else that was professional." But, Marcia was always singing. There was a guy living in the yard with a guitar who wrote the song 'Wall of Love' and because Marcia loved harmonising, "I just had a harmony for it," Marcia recalls.
She was only 13 years old. The pair of teenager and guitarist would entertain neighbours and friends who thought they were quite good.
It was so that one day, Phillip 'Basy' James of Blues Busters passed by, hearing them, insisted that Marcia should try out for the Easter Monday show with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.
Marcia went on to impress everyone with Carla Thompson's 'No Time to Lose'. The audience roared in appreciation for every authentic slur. 'Basy' James was so overwhelmed that he tore his jacket and his buttons flew.
For this teenager, there was no turning back. Her father became her manager and companion on the road.
The early days were spent with Coxone Dodd at his studio. "It was like a nine-to-five job, going there early in the morning and leaving in the evening." At Studio One, she met Rita, Bob, Ken Boothe and Delroy Wilson. She also did some work with the Skattalites.
Even though she was still a teen, Dodd was searching for a hit for her.
Marcia paired up with Bob Andy who wrote 'Feel like Jumping' in 1967, their first local hit. The pair also did 'Young Gifted and Black'. This was her first bona fide hit which crept to number two on the British charts.
The next year (1971) Bob and Marcia had another hit on the London and European charts with 'The Pied Piper'. But it was all about fun, Marcia said until she linked up with Bob Marley.
After she split with Bob Andy (her first boyfriend, she admits), in 1974, Marcia released her second solo album 'Sweet Bitter Love', produced by Lloyd Charmers for Trojan Records.
Then came the formation of the I-Threes who first came together with Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley singing harmony on stage for Marcia.
They then started to record and began touring with Bob Marley and the Wailers, from the release of his 'Natty Dread' album onwards.
As a vocal trio the I-Threes released two albums. Later, the hook up with Bob Marley featured a new high in Griffiths' career.
She says "When I saw how Bob took his music so seriously...I saw the man's music was his life.
"I started listening to the message in the music rather than just the rhythm. After travelling with Bob and seeing thousands come out to listen, I drew brakes.
"I saw in the Bible where God called upon the players of instruments and singers to perform. I decided that Bob was the chosen.
Message
"I started to think about my own message which was being sent out to the world. I vowed to unite the people through the music rather than selling them fantasies. You are chosen, especially when you have a God-given talent.
"I began to clean up my lyrics. I saw myself as on a mission from God," Griffiths said.
The singer says that she also wanted to be of help especially to women. "The sisters really seem to be the weaker vessel. I try to strengthen women in my songs from time to time."
Definitely, she says, "this has been the impact in my time. When I see the number of females singers now in the business...many of them have said to me at one time or the other that I have inspired them."
The singer says that she is very thankful for this result of her career, even "if I have not reaped the rewards that other people have - financially".
The biggest of Griffiths hits was 'Electric Boogie', which broke down one pressing plant in the United States after producing 40 million.
'Electric Boogie' released in 1982 and re-released with the dance in 1989 was an unqualified crossover hit, The remix version, done by Chris Blackwell, went into the Billboard pop charts and singles chart, including country and western.
The song may have made some people rich, certainly not Griffiths. "I will not speak of it," she says.
Her advice to other women in the business is; "You must have proper management. A singer cannot be a business person and a manager, at the same time as they are trying to be the best in their career.
"You are also more respected when you are with someone with knowledge. Write your agreements so that when your tunes become million sellers you are protected."
She comments on the striking contrast in the music scene between the United States and Jamaica.
"In the US women reign. But here, women are still being disrespected in the music industry. In Jamaica, it's a man thing, especially in reggae. But, we too (as women) have a story to tell. So many good females singers are wasted for no reason," Griffiths said
But, "I am never bitter," she concludes. "I have laid a foundation," she says.
On a subject of love Griffiths, mother of three grown sons says: "I don't know if I am too deep for the world. I give everything. My father always said to me 'leave something for yourself. I have been hurt very badly. My father used to say to me. I can see right through you crying on the inside.
"You have to be hard and bitchy and I was never made like that."
After her relationship with Bob Andy ended her next major relationship was with producer Errol Thompson, who died the same year that her mother passed. Her reason to continue living, she said, was her three sons Errol Thompson Jr, Johannes and Marcus.
"The Bible said that God is the helper of the fatherless. I did not need a father to raise them," she said.
"They are three excellent children," she adds. They are all now involved in some aspect of the music business.
Loner
Griffiths who describes herself as a loner and shy is still amazed that she has managed to endure on the stage so long.
After performances, she disappears, exploring by herself, "I cannot take crowds." She tours twice a year in the United States and Europe, where the hits of yesteryear are the hottest thing.
"The only reason why I walk on stage with no doubt is because I know what I can do."
When not on stage cooking is her first love. She also enjoys the open air. "I love anything that has to do with nature - rain, the river... I love to hear rain on a zinc roof.
The simple life beckons.
"I am not a materialistic kind of person. I am more aware now and I am trying still to unite the world.
The singer who sang "I shall sing as long as I live" says, "I want to sing the song that can touch souls and change the world."
