Reggae Month: A Quick Look at Some Queens of Reggae
Reggae Month is a celebration of Jamaica’s reggae music throughout the entire month of February.
MARCIA GRIFFITHS: Born in 1949. Her solo career began in 1960s. She had success in the UK with “Young Gifted and Black’ in 1971. In the 1980s her single “Electric Boogie” spawned a worldwide dance craze “The Electric Slide”. In the 1970s Marcia became a member of “I ’Threes”, Bob Marley and The Wailers back of harmony trio featuring Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt. She is labeled the “Queen of Reggae”. Marcia had two children with JBC disc jockey Errol Thompson, and raised them alone after his death in 1983.
JUDY MOWATT: Born in 1952. Her initial ambition was to become a registered nurse. Mowatt’s solo career saw hits like “I’m Alone”, “I Love You”, “Too Good For Me.” Her Black Woman album (1980) is considered by many critics to be the greatest reggae album by a female artiste. She was the first female singer nominated for a Grammy Award in in 1985. Formerly a Rasta, she converted to Christianity and now sings Gospel music.
PHYLLIS DILLON: (December 1944 – April 2004). Labeled Queen of Rock Steady. Dominated charts with “Don’t Stay Away”,” One Life to Live”, “Love That a Woman Can Give a Man”, “Perfidia” and “Don’t Touch My Tomato.” Dillon moved to New York in 1967. She had a family and was in banking, flying frequently back to Kingston to record for Duke Reid. She ended her career in 1971. She died of cancer in 1994.
MILLIE SMALL: She is the daughter of a sugar plantation overseer and moved to Kingston in her teens. Chris Blackwell became her manager and legal guardian and took her to London in 1963. Her record, an Ernest Ranglin re-arrangement of “My Boy Lollipop” was originally released by Barbie Gaye in 1956.
Small’s version was a massive hit, reaching number two both in the UK and the U.S, topped chart in Australia. The song sold more than seven million copies worldwide
She lived in Singapore from 1971 to 1973 before returning to the UK.
LORNA BENNETT: (born in 1952). Topped Jamaican charts in 1970s, and best remembered for her reggae version of “Breakfast in Bed”, originally recorded by Dusty Springfield. Bennett became the first female artist to top the singles chart in Jamaica for five years. She recorded Pluto Shervington’s “Dancing to my Own Heartbeat” in 1974 then gave up her musical career, moved back to St. Elizabeth and opened a legal practice.
By Neo Makeba
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