Bob Marley and The I-Threes
Like millions around the world, I love the music of Bob Marley. The message, the mood, the instruments...it is as timeless, relevant, and pure as music gets. Despite the elements of perfection that combine to create the musical legacy of this Jamaican singer--who would have celebrated his 67th birthday today--February 6, I have always been in awe of his backup singers: the I-Threes . Bob's late wife Rita Marley , along with Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths , make up the background vocalists the I-Threes that supported Bob Marley and the Wailers (Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer) from 1974 until Bob's death in May of 1981. I've always loved their style. I've always admired how cool they were. Funky. Full of life. Although Bob's music could stand alone with one vocal and an acoustic guitar accompaniment, the full vocals and harmonies of the I-Threes always added a necessary touch of soul to the compositions. Rita Marley (born 1946), who was married to Bob in 1966, and ...