The precursor to Reggae and Rocksteady, Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the 1950's and developed throughout the 1960's. Ska was mainly dominated by male producers and artists, however many strong female vocalists emerged during this time also. The top female vocalists of the era were Millicent ‘Patsy’ Todd, Marcia Griffiths, Joya Landis, Norma Fraser, Cynthia Richards, Rita Anderson Marley, Dawn Penn and Ms. Rock Steady herself, Phyllis Dillon. The female presence with solo singers and groups increased in the Ska era. Here I will take a look at the top female Ska artists within music.
1) Joya Landis - Now an American based artist, Landis recorded an early version of 'Angel Of The Morning' in 1968. The track Angel Of The Morning was originally written in 1968 by Chip Taylor and first became a hit by Merrilee Rush. However like so many other hit US tracks, it was heard and rerecorded by Jamaican artists, such as Joya Landis. Landis had a small collection of Ska and Rocksteady tracks on the Treasure Isle label including Moonlight Lover, I Love You True, I'll be Lonely featuring John Holt and When The Lights Are Low.
2) Millie Small - Again following the tradition of Jamaican artists rerecording originally US tracks, Small came to have an international hit record in 1964 with My Boy Lollypop. The track was first recorded in 1956 by 14 year old US artist Barbie Gaye and was originally a Shuffle/R&B tune. Small's version became Jamaica's first commercially successful international hit record. It remains one of the best selling Ska/Reggae tracks of all time, selling over seven million copies worldwide.
3) Nora Dean - With her suggestive and risque song Barbwire, Dean became a success and had a career that spanned Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae and Gospel. Dean had her first successful hit in 1970 with producer Byron Lee with the track Barbwire. A former member of the Soulettes and The Ebony Sisters, Dean's lyrics were often suggestive and risque. Nora's track list includes Wreck A Buddy, Mojo Girl, Peace Begin Within. Nora also recorded with infamous Jamacian record producer Lee Scratch Perry, producing with him the track The Same Thing You Gave To Daddy.
4) Nora Fraser - With her heartfelt and emotional vocals, Fraser is added to our list of top female Ska vocalists. We'll Be Lovers became Fraser's first track to be released in 1961, following on from that Nora's biggest hit came to be a cover of a Cat Stevens track, First Cut Is The Deepest. The success of First Cut, earned Fraser 'Best Newcomer' in a 1967 Jamaican music award. Fraser started her career in the early 1960's, her track Heartaches became a number one hit in Jamaica and stayed in the charts for over a year. Fraser's catalog includes tracks Give Me Right, Come By Here, Respect and The Ten Commandments Of A Woman. Migrating to the US in the 1970's, Fraser featured in a gig supporting american politician Bella Abzug.
5) Doreen Shaffer - Known as The Queen Of Ska, this artist is definitely worthy of that title. One of the founding members of the band The Skatalites in 1964, Shaffer has had many hits released with the group and as a solo act. Shaffer began her career with Studio One, before they both joined The Skatalies in 1964. From 1964 to 1994 Shaffer performed live with the band. Shaffer had success with tracks Sugar, Sugar and Try A Little Smile.
6) Marcia Griffiths - With a career spanning more than fifty years, Griffiths has more than certainly earned her title as Queen Of Reggae. 1964 is when Griffiths career began, when she started recording with Studio One Records. Griffiths first successful solo hit came in 1968 with Feel Like Jumping, which alongside other hit tracks Truly and Melody Life, were written by influential songwriter Bob Andy. Marcia also had two international hit songs a cover of Young, Gifted and Black and Piped Piper, which peaked at 5 and 11 in the UK charts. Marcia's cover of Electric Boogie became her most successful hit reaching 51 in the US Billboard hot 100 chart.
7) Susan Cadogan
8) Pauline Black - 'Hands down, Pauline Black possessed the best voice that ever graced a 2-Tone release. Blessed with a bewitching soprano and dramatic panache, Black's voice reached plateaus that made every other musical detail sound like part of a backdrop painted just to set the stage for her entrance,' - Rolling Stone. Part of the popular Two Tone and Ska wave that took hold throughout the UK in the 1980's, Black can be credited with starting the Ska revival. Black was part of the band The Selector who alongside The Specials and Madness brought Ska back into the charts and back to the attention of mainstream media.
9) Dawn Penn - Born in Kingston, Jamaica Penn is best known for her international 1994 hit You Don't Love Me (No, No, No). However her career started in the 1960's when she worked with producers Byron Lee, Prince Buster and Studio One. Penn's hits include, Why Did You Leave, Broke My Heart, I Let You Go Boy, To Sir With Love, Here Comes The Son and Long Day, Short Night.
10) Gwen Stefani - Last but certainly not least, Gwen Stefani. Stefani's contribution to this list comes from her being part of the 90's Ska influenced band No Doubt. With the second wave of Ska becoming popular again within the UK in the 1980's, the popularity soon spread internationally and had its influence on many US artists. Originally fronting her brothers band, Stefani soon became the main focus with the energetic and original performances. Taking her inspiration from The Specials and other Ska acts, Stefani truly has a real love and admiration for Ska and Reggae that is still aparent to this day. Stefani's love of Ska and Jamacia is also apparent in her personal life as she has named her children Kingston, after Kingston Jamaica and Nesta, after Bob Nesta Marley. Although now Stefani mainly focuses on pop, her roots definelty remain in Ska.
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