Marcia Griffiths Skips Rebel Salute, Prepares For 60th Anniversary Tour

Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths is gearing up for what she says will be a memorable 60th-anniversary tour that begins in March. As a result, she says she will not be doing any major appearances, including Rebel Salute this weekend, which the promoters were advertising her for.

“I really wanted to do Rebel Salute enuh, and I said, ‘boy, Tony, I really would love to do it but this is not even a little private event. This is a big thing that people come from all over [to see], and you know otherwise I would do it, if I didn’t have my tour,” Griffiths told DancehallMag.

The veteran entertainer reiterated that she wants the best for her compatriot, Tony Rebel, and his showcase—which is celebrating 30 years. However, she is perturbed that fans may end up disappointed if she doesn’t perform at the event after her image was placed on several posters without her consent.

“Even if I said to him that I am doing the show when we were talking months before, when you get down to the nitty gritty in the final analysis that you’re going to present names in your show, you’re supposed to pick up your phone and call me professionally and ask and we discuss the business part, and all that,” she reasoned. 

Added Griffiths, “He did nothing of the sort more than go announce my name. I went to the launch enuh, and rain wet mi when I was going over to tell him that my team said no way I can do it. I heard him call my name up there, and I said, ‘My God, there Tony goes calling up my name that I’m coming on.’”

The Dreamland singer added that she did not expect her name to be advertised since she was not formally contracted.

“It was my negligence not to call him the following day, honest to God. I kept saying he would not advertise me unless he called me because that’s the right way to go about it. When I called Tony and said I cannot do Rebel Salute enuh because my team says I should not do anything like that before my major event,” she said.

Rebel Salute is slated for Plantation Cove in St. Ann between January 19 and 20. In an interview with Winford Williams on OnStage over the weekend, Rebel said that each night would bear 15 acts. When asked about Griffiths’ appearance, Rebel said, “Well, Marcia unfortunately won’t be on it. I got Leroy ‘Don’ Smart [to replace her]…”

Dancehall superstar Sean Paul will grace the Rebel Salute for the first time in its 30-year history on Saturday, January 20, alongside Reggae giants Luciano, Etana, Queen Ifrica and Capleton.  The list is completed by Louie Culture, Mortimer, Josie Wales, Yellowman, Horace Andy, Peter Metro, Linval Thompson, Fantan Mojah and Turbulence, and The Rebel clan.

Meanwhile, the former I-Three says all is looking well for her ‘Marcia and Friends’ tour , which will see her visiting several countries. The biggest, she says, will take place at King’s House in St Andrew on a date to be announced. The grand celebration will see the accompaniment of renowned R&B singer Patti LaBelle, and some other music stalwarts who are dear to Griffiths.

“She [Patti LaBelle] had promised me years ago from I was celebrating 25 years, and she was in Jamaica… she’s a very good friend of mine and I want her to be my special guest. I was just doing it around her availability, and the availability of the [other] artists, because you know everybody go out and tour for summer,” she revealed to DancehallMag.

She will also be making stops in Florida, Ghana, and the UK.