Soulful Sundays: Marcia Griffiths

Categories: Jamaica, Postaday, Soulful Sundays, TravelTags: Jamaica, Marcia Griffiths, Music, postaday, Soulful SundaysAuthor: Marcia Mayne

Marcia Griffiths was born in Kingston in 1949. She started singing professionally in 1964 but became an international sensation in 1989 when a deejay in Washington, DC began playing a little song she recorded seven years earlier. The Electric Boogie, with its infectious, feel-good rhythms, spawned a new line dance, the Electric Slide, which still draws young and old to dance floors at weddings, family reunions and parties. It was featured in movies, The Best Man (1999), and on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Marcia Griffiths, photo from the Internet

Griffiths was also part of the I-Threes, the trio of accomplished women, Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley, who provided back-up vocals for Bob Marley from 1974 until the singer’s death in 1981.

Griffiths has sang with the legendary band, Byron Lee & the Dragonaires and had a long collaboration with another gifted Jamaican artist, Bob Andy, with whom she recorded, Young, Gifted and Black.

In recognition of her contribution to reggae music, the Jamaican Government awarded Griffiths an Order of Distinction in 2002.

Griffiths, who has 14 albums to her credit, continues to perform. She recently performed on opening night at this year’s Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival.

About Marcia Mayne

Marcia Mayne travels a world full of books, music, art, fun people and great food. She raves about them constantly. Currently, she is journeying through Jamaica, her home country, to discover the places she missed.

25 Jan2012 9 Comments

Celine Dion Headlines the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2012

Categories: Music, PostadayTags: Jamaica, Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, Music, postadayAuthor: Marcia Mayne

This week, all roads will lead to the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival which is set to start tomorrow, January 26th and run until January 28th at Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny.

Headliner Celine Dion, who’s performing for the first time in the Caribbean, The Voice’s Cee Lo Green, Earl Klugh, The Temptations Review, featuring Dennis Edwards, Heads of State (Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant), Shaggy, Etana, Marcia Griffiths, John Holt, Yellow Man, Destra and Damian Marley are among those who are scheduled to perform

In tribute to the celebration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence, general admission tickets on opening night will be $50 for a single event. On Friday, $100; $80 on Saturday. Weekend passes are $175. The $250 season pass ticket gets you in for all events.

Getting There:

Greenfield Stadium is located about an hour’s drive from Montego Bay. Jazz Shuttle & Taxi Service is available from most hotels.

The Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, Greenfield Stadium, January 26-28, 2012.

About Marcia Mayne

22 Jan2012 12 Comments

Soulful Sundays: Etta James, RIP

Categories: Postaday, Soulful SundaysTags: Etta James, Music, postaday, Soulful SundaysAuthor: Marcia Mayne

This week, we received news that Grammy award winning singer, Etta James, had passed away five days before her 74th birthday. I was ‘introduced’ to Ms. James when I was a student at university. Back then, as I’ve written in previous posts, my friends and I would share the music of our favorite artists. Etta James was one of my friend’s.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles in 1938, Etta James began singing in her church at age 5. She is best known for her signature song, At Last, which was recorded in 1960. It brought her renewed interest when it was featured in the 2008 film, Cadillac Records.

Etta James, photo from the Internet

During a career that spanned nearly 60 years, Ms. James recorded more than 35 albums. She won six Grammy Awards and 17 Blues Music Awards. In 1993, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and 2008. She also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.

Ms. James has been a musical influence to artists such as Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Joss Stone, Adele, the Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse and Rod Stewart.

She is survived by her husband, Artis Mills and her sons Donto and Sametto.

Take a listen to this selection from Ms. James, I’d Rather Go Blind, and my absolute favorite, Sunday Kind of Love.

Rest In Peace, Etta.

About Marcia Mayne

08 Jan2012 6 Comments

Soulful Sundays: Don Drummond

Categories: Jamaica, Music, Postaday2011, Soulful SundaysTags: Don Drummond, Jamaica, Music, Skatalites, Soulful SundaysAuthor: Marcia Mayne

Ska trombonist and composer, Don Drummond, was one of the original members of the Jamaican Ska band, The Skatalites. He was educated at Alpha Boys School where he also taught. Drummond began his musical career with the Eric Dean’s All-Stars.

A household name in Jamaica in the 60s, pianist George Shearing rated him one of the world’s top five

Don Drummond, image from Wikipedia

trombone players. By 1965, Drummond had over 200 songs to his credit.

He suffered mental problems and in 1965, was convicted of killing Marguerita Mahfood, his longtime girlfriend, and confined to Kingston’s Bellevue Hospital, a mental institution.

In 1967, his adaptation of The Guns of Navarone hit the UK Top 10.

Drummond died in May, 1969, four years after being sent to Bellevue. He was just 37 years old.

Here are Man in the Street, which reached the Top 10 in the UK in 1965, and Jungle Reggae.

About Marcia Mayne

23 Dec2011 4 Comments

A Jamaican Christmas – Reggae Carols, 2

Categories: Music, Postaday2011, TravelTags: John Holt, Music, postaday2011, Reggae Carols, The Tamlins, Toots & The MaytalsAuthor: Marcia Mayne

Most of the Christmas carols we learned over the years mention things like snow, mistletoe, stockings, chimneys, etc., that we don’t see here in Jamaica. So after years of singing these songs, several performers began Jamaicanizing the carols, adding a reggae beat and substituting items that local people could relate to.

Here now are a few more reggae carols, by John Holt, The Tamlins and Toots & The Maytals.

Holly, maynefoto

The Tamlins – Carlton Smith, Derrick Lara and Junior Moore – began as a nightclub act in 1970. By 1972, they had won the Most Outstanding Group award. They’ve recorded a string of hits and backed up performers such as Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, John Holt and others. Here’s their song, This Christmas.

Singer/songwriter, John Holt, was the lead singer for the rocksteady band, The Paragons. He wrote the hit song, The Tide is High, made famous by Blondie. Take a listen to Happy Xmas.

Well-known ska and reggae group, Toots & The Maytals, also marked the season with Happy Christmas.

Hope these carols will have you singing along or shaking your feet as you bake your cookies, wrap gifts or decorate the house.

Happy Holidays!

About Marcia Mayne

18 Dec2011 2 Comments

Soulful Sundays: Cesaria Evora – RIP

Categories: Music, News & Stuff, Postaday2011Tags: Cesária Évora, Music, postaday2011, Soulful SundaysAuthor: Marcia Mayne

Cape Verdian singer, Cesária Évora, died on Saturday, December 17th in Baptista de Sousa Hospital in Mindelo, on her native island of Sao Vicente. She was 70 years old.

Cesaria Evora, photo from the Internet

Évora was featured on Soulful Sundays in April. Take a listen to Petit Pays.

About Marcia Mayne

13 Nov2011 2 Comments

Soulful Sundays: Desmond Dekker

Categories: Jamaica, Music, Postaday2011, Soulful SundaysTags: 007 Shanty Town, Desmond Dekker, Israelite, Jamaica, Music, postaday2011, Soulful SundaysAuthor: Marcia Mayne

As I write about Desmond Dekker, a Gregory Isaacs song (Love is Overdue) is coming to me from across the way. I’m thrilled to see that the music popularized by artists such as Dekker, Isaacs, Marley, Dennis Brown, etc., is holding its own against dancehall.

Desmond Dekker, photo from the Internet

Desmond Dekker and his backup band, the Aces, won the Jamaica Festival Song Competition in 1968 with Music Like Dirt and had a string of hits that year, including A It Mek and Poor Mi Israelite. Israelite topped the charts in the UK and made Dekker the first Jamaican artist to have a UK hit. The success of Israelite paved the way for other Jamaican artists who made up the ska/reggae “invasion” of the UK that went on to influence punk music there.

Dekker was born Desmond Dacres in St. Andrew on July 16, 1945. He died in the UK on May 25, 2006. Please listen to Poor Mi Israelite and another hit, 007 Shanty Town.

About Marcia Mayne

16 Oct2011 0 Comments

Soulful Sundays: Nana Mouskouri

Categories: Postaday2011, Soulful Sundays, TravelTags: Music, Nana Mouskouri, postaday2011, Soulful SundaysAuthor: Marcia Mayne

A few weeks ago, when I featured Shirley Bassey on Soulful Sundays, my blog buddy, Narelle mentioned Nana Mouskouri. I hadn’t thought of her in quite a while but I promised Narelle that I’d feature her soon.

I was introduced to Mouskouri when I lived in Ottawa — feels like decades now. I remember the media referring to her as the woman who made wearing glasses ‘sexy.’ One story that made the rounds then was that when she toured with Harry Belafonte, he asked her not to wear her glasses. She refused. Indeed, she is a very attractive woman. But it’s her voice that is captivating in its simplicity. Give a listen to her singing The White Rose of Athens. I also love her rendition of Amazing Grace.

Nana Mouskouri

Born Joanna Mouskouri on October 13, 1934 in Crete, she became known to family and friends simply as Nana. She has recorded jazz, world, Greek folk, Pop, and Classical music. Mouskouri has more than 230 gold and platinum albums and nearly 400 million discs worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female recording artist of all time.

In addition to her music, Mouskouri was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 1993 and was elected a Member of the European Parliament from 1995-9.

Mouskouri retired in 2008 giving a farewell concert in Athens, Greece.

About Marcia Mayne

25 Sep2011 4 Comments

Soulful Sundays – Regina Carter

Categories: Music, Postaday2011, Soulful SundaysTags: Music, postaday2011, Regina Carter, Soulful SundaysAuthor: Marcia Mayne

Jazz violinist and MacArthur Fellow Regina Carter began taking piano lessons at age two after playing by air a melody for her brother’s piano teacher. At four, she was enrolled at the Detroit Community Music School. She played with Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Division, took master classes with Itzak Perlman and Yehudi Menuhin.

Carter began studying classical violin at New England Conservatory of Music, then switched to jazz and Oakland University in Michigan as the Conservatory did not have a jazz program.

Regina Carter, photo stitoday

She’s played with Straight Ahead, accompanied Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Billy Joel, Mary J. Blige and Dolly Parton, played with Max Roach and toured with Wynton Marsalis. Currently, she performs as the head of a quintet. Carter, who was born in Detroit on August 6, 1966 is the cousin of jazz saxophonist, James Carter. She has 7 solo CDs to her credit.

Here’s Carter’s Pavane from her CD, Paganini: After a Dream. If you like what you hear, go here for a free download of Artistiya from her latest album, Reverse Thread.

About Marcia Mayne

21 Sep2011 8 Comments

11 Places to Listen to Live Music in New York City

Categories: Music, New York City, Postaday2011Tags: Cafe Wha, Fat Baby, Fat City, Kenny's Castaways, Music, New York City, Pianos, SOB's, The Bitter End, The Delancey, The Living Room, The Mercury Lounge, Zinc BarAuthor: Marcia Mayne

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m helping my blog buddy Tony plan his latest trip to New York City in the fall. Since Tony’s a music lover, I know he’d want to check out some live performances while he’s in the city. The Lower East Side is a great place for him to start.

Here are a few places Tony can go. Unfortunately, he’ll have to leave his kids with a sitter as patrons have to be 21 and over to attend.

Café Wha, 115 MacDougal Street, 212-254-3706 – a New York hotspot since the 1950s. At Café Wha, you can expect to hear all kinds of music, from Reggae, R&B, Classic, Brazilian, Rock.
Fat Baby, 112 Rivington Street 212-533-1883 – Two floors, live bands
Fat Cat, 75 Christopher Street, 212-675-6056 – Live music nightly
Kenny’s Castaways, 157 Bleecker Street, has been a fixture on the New York music scene since the 1960s.
The Mercury Lounge, 217 E Houston Street 212-477-4155 (in NYC, Houston Street is pronounced Howston)
Pianos, 158 Ludlow Street, 212-505-3733
The Bitter End, 149 Bleecker Street, 212-673-7030 – Since 1960, one of the oldest rock clubs in New York City.
The Delancey, 168 Delancey Street, 212-675-9920 - Funk, R&B, Soul, Jazz
The Living Room, 154 Ludlow Street, 212-533-7235 - Best NYC club for singer/songwriters.
SOB’s, short for Sounds of Brazil, 204 Varick Street, 212-243-4940 - International music.
Zinc Bar, 82 West 3^rd Street, 212-477-9462 – Jazz, Rock, World Music