Marcia Llyneth Griffiths was born on 23 November 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica, and made her first stage appearance at age 14 on Easter Monday in 1964, after a chance intervention by vocalist Philip James persuaded promoter Byron Lee to let her perform a single song.
Griffiths scored her first hit in 1969 with a version of Nina Simone's 'To Be Young, Gifted and Black', and worked as part of the duo Bob and Marcia with Bob Andy from 1970 to 1974, becoming one of the most consistent presences on the Jamaican reggae charts.
In 1974 Griffiths joined Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt to form the I Threes, the backing vocal trio for Bob Marley and the Wailers, touring internationally and recording background vocals on Marley's acclaimed albums Exodus and Kaya.
In 1982 Bunny Wailer wrote 'Electric Boogie' for Griffiths, and her 1989 re-release of the song became the best-selling single of all time by a female reggae artist, inspiring the Electric Slide, a line dance that became a fixture of weddings and parties across North America.
Griffiths has continued performing for over 60 years, celebrating the milestone with concerts under the name Marcia Griffiths & Friends in 2024, and remains widely regarded as the undisputed Queen of Reggae.
- Recorded 'Electric Boogie', the best-selling single in history by a female reggae artist
- Member of the I Threes, backing vocalists for Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Created the Electric Slide dance craze
- Over 60 years as a recording and performing artist
- Conferred with Jamaica's Order of Distinction
- A supporting role can still achieve global reach. Griffiths's background vocal work in the I Threes placed her at the heart of some of reggae's most celebrated recordings.
- A single song can launch a cultural phenomenon. 'Electric Boogie' took nearly a decade to become a hit but ultimately created a dance now performed at countless weddings and parties worldwide.