Biography
Who is Marcia Griffiths?
Early career and Studio One
Born in West Kingston, Jamaica, she began performing in 1964. She first appeared on stage with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires after Phillip James discovered her singing in her local area. Following this performance, Ronnie Nasralla and Clement Dodd offered her recording contracts. She signed with Dodd at the Studio One label.
There, she recorded duets with various artists including Bob Andy, Bob Marley, Tony Gregory, and Jeff Dixon. Her first major solo success arrived in 1968 with the track Feel Like Jumping. Other early hits written by Bob Andy included the songs Truly and Melody Life.
Musical partnerships and backing vocals
Between 1970 and 1974, she collaborated with Bob Andy as a duo known as Bob and Marcia, recording on the Harry J label. She also worked with Lloyd Charmers during this period. Later, from 1974 until 1981, she was part of the I Threes. This trio provided backing vocals for Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Throughout the 1970s, she continued her solo work, partnering with producers Joseph Hoo Kim and Sonia Pottinger.
The Electric Boogie success
In December 1982, she released the single Electric Boogie, written for her by Bunny Wailer. The song was inspired by the track Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant. It reached the top of the Jamaican charts in early 1983. A 1989 remix turned the song into an international hit associated with the Electric Slide line dance. This version reached number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
It remains the highest-selling single by a female reggae singer of all time. She later collaborated with producer Donovan Germain on various projects, including the 2014 album Songs That Inspire Me, Songs I Love to Sing.
Honors and later work
Marcia Griffiths appeared in the 2011 documentary titled Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals. She also contributed to the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album.
In August 2014, it was announced she would receive the Commander class of the Jamaican Order of Distinction. In October 2023, she received the Order of Jamaica, which is the fourth-highest national honour in the country. She also signed a booking agreement with Donsome Records in 2018.
Personal life
She had two children with Errol Thompson, who worked as a disc jockey for JBC. After Thompson died in 1983, she raised their children as a single parent.
Birthday and age
Marcia Griffiths was born on November 23, 1949, which makes Marcia 76 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Marcia shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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