How do you Reggaematically link The Hollywood Black Pack to Larry Blackmon and The Wailers?

How do you Reggaematically link The Hollywood Black Pack to Larry Blackmon and The Wailers?


Answer: Marcia Griffiths. Now before the logic police comes to arrest me, hear me out! Have you seen the movie ‘The Best Man’?
The one with Sanaa Lathan, Terrence Howard, Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long et al? OK, well at the end of the movie the whole
Wedding does a dance to Cameo’s ‘Candy’. This song has now become known as the wedding dance and every time you play Candy
since then, the dancefloor stops and everyone looks at the DJ for instructions as to which direction the
dance is gonna start. When it works - it’s the most beautiful sight to behold as the see of dancers
move in unison as a well drilled army unit.

What’s this got to do with Reggae and specifically The Wailers? Well hold on and I’ll tell ya!

Marcia Griffiths is currently number 1 on both of the Capital’s recognised Reggae Charts with
‘Love Is Automatic’ ft: Busy Signal.
Known as either the queen of Jamaica or the queen of Reggae - she is the longest serving female member of the Reggae
fraternity having scored hits in 6 decades!!!! Starting off as a child prodigy she caused a bidding war between Coxsone Dodd and
Duke Reid when she performed on Jamaican television. She eventually signed with Coxsone with whom she went on to score a
number of solo hits. In the late 60’s she scored some pop hits with ‘Young, Gifted & Black’ & ‘Pied Piper’ in tandem with her then
boyfriend, Bob Andy. Fast forward a few years and the Wailers were devoid of two of their original members, namely Peter Tosh
ad Bunny Wailer. Bob Marley asked his wife Rita, to invite two of her friends, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths to “try a ting”
on a song. Thus the I-three were born and toured the world as Bob Marley’s backing vocalists. Ms Griffiths’ solo career became a
bit sporadic during this time as the group was always on the road. After Bob’s passing in 1981 she recorded a single, ‘Electric Boogie’
with original Wailer, Bunny Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer). When it first came out it was a decent enough track describing
something called the ‘Electric Slide’.

The Electric Slide took off in Miami to such an extent that some 7 years later it became a bona fide pop hit when it was
re-released by Mango/Island records. The dance that was being performed by the guests in the ‘Best Man’ to ‘Candy’, was originally
called – guess what? – The Electric Slide!

And that is how you Reggaematically link The Hollywood Black Pack to Larry Blackmon & The Wailers – through Ms Marcia Griffiths.




On This Day.......

1991 – Super Cat was busy changing his subtitle from the Wild Apache to the Don Dadda in response to the success
of his one-time protégé, Ninjaman’s, claim of being the Don Gorgon.







This week’s number one’s around the Reggae world (At Press time).

‘Burnin Burnin’ – Miss Triniti Ft: Beenie Man - Jamaica Music Count Down (Dancehall)
‘Come Over’ – Estelle Ft: Sean Paul - Caribbean Hot 30
‘Get Wild’– Vybz Kartel - France
‘I Can Feel Your Pain’ – Busy Signal - New York
‘Love Is Automatic’ – Marcia Griffiths Ft: Busy Signal - Choice FM, London/BBC 1xtra
‘Nah Drop De Ting’ – Burro Banton – Germany
‘Nothing Change (Love Reigns)’ – Bugle & Tarrus Riley - Jamaica Music Count Down (Reggae)
‘Romping Shop’ – Vybz Kartel & Spice – RETV (Dancehall), JA
‘Start Anew’ – Tarrus Riley – RETV (Reggae), JA
‘Stop The Talking’ – Fiona - South Florida
‘Sweep’ – Elephant Man - Lance O’s Reggae Vibes
‘Tell It Like It Is’ – Stevie Face – New Style, Birmingham (Pictured)
‘Time To Shine’ – Laden - Outaroad.com, JA




Back 2 Da Future Music

In De Charts

‘Flying Dagger (100 Stab)’ – Aidonia – Germany/ Caribbean Hot 30
‘Know Yourself’ Lloyd Brown & Peter Spence – New York
‘Pull Up Your Trousers’ Vivian Jones & Nereus Joseph

On Air

Fridays – 10pm -12 Midnight – Aston FM 89.1/www.astonfm.com with Chicken George
Saturdays – 7pm – 9pm – www.playvybz.com
Sunday – 10pm -12 Midnight – The Archive Selection with Natty B on Choice FM 96.9/107.1/www.choicefm.com
Mondays – 6pm – 9pm – Elayne Smith’s Music Industry Show on www.colourfulradio.com (Monthly)


Live:

February
Feb 20th – Lloyd Brown @ Casper Inn, Casper, California
Feb 21st – Lloyd Brown with 7th Street @ Sweet Fingers Restaurant, San Leandro, California
Feb 24th – Lloyd Brown with 7th Street @ Red Fox Tavern, Eureka, California
Feb 26th – Lloyd Brown with 7th Street @ The Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, California
Feb 27th – Lloyd Brown with 7th Street & Don Carlos @ Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz, California


March
Mar 4th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge with Carroll Thompson & Guests @ Ruby Lo’s
Mar 6th – Bongo Chill @ West Indian Centre, Leeds
Mar 15th – Dennis Bovell/Lloyd Brown/Prezedent @ Jean Adebambo Benefit Concert @ Hackney Empire (SOLD OUT!!!!)
Mar 28th – Prezedent @ Labadi Nights with P’nP Family, French Kiss, Mos Camp & More

April
Apr 1st – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge with Carroll Thompson & Guests @ Ruby Lo’s
Apr 11th – Ding Dong @ Stratford Rex, London
Apr 12th – Prezedent @ The Studio Club, Bedford

May
May 2nd – Lloyd Brown @ Deighton Centre, Huddersfield with Mike Anthony & Kofi
Nereus Joseph & Prezedent @ African Language Fundraiser, Spotty Dog Football Club, Forest Gate, Upton Lane
May 6th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge with Carroll Thompson & Guests @ Ruby Lo’s