By: Gerald Shaw

 

      Marcia "Pinky" Higgs, a/k/a "Sister Higgsy," is the daughter of internationally acclaimed and undisputed, "Father Of Reggae Music," Joe Higgs. She began her musical mission at age 16, when as a solo act, she recorded her debut singles, "Drifting Love," and "Sea Of Love," (both adapted) on the various artists album, "Juvenile Delinquent." This album was produced by renown Bob Marley & The Wailers Ace Bass Player, Aston "Familyman" Barrett, who happens to be the husband of her sister,  Angella "Dimples" Higgs. The album was recorded in the Tuff Gong Studio and was manufactured and distributed on the Clappers label by VP Records.

   "When I took my personal copy of the album home and had my father listen to it, he told me straight up that, "Your voice is in sink with the rhythm, and is  sounding quite mellow, but your constant jestering tend to defeat the purpose of the product," she recalls. "He went on to say that at 16 years old, my first priority should definitely be to focus on my education. Well, to tell you the truth, "I" felt defeated and put down by my own father, but no one argues with Joe Higgs, and so I was forced to quit doing something I really loved before I even got started. I believe all this was because my father was too paranoid to have any of his kids venture into the music business. Man, he used to warn us everyday," she reminisced. 

   Much to her father's delight, Marcia Higgs soon became a school teacher, but after just a few years, she insisted that the teaching profession was too systematic. "I had already gone to school, as a student, for enough years, since I was six, and I never missed one. I just could not digest the fact that I still had to get up at five in the mornings to be at "school" on time, and so I wanted to do something that was far less confined," she explained. Well, through it all, her inborn passion for the music still remained, and so ultimately, she teamed up with her identical twin cousins, Pauline & Paulette Robinson, and together they formed the all girls Dancehall-Reggae Sing J Trio, Higgs & Twin.  

   On the King Jammy's label, the group recorded a series of singles, including their debut,  "Down In The Ghetto," "Jump Up Time," (from which they did the radio disc jockey's jingle, "Richie B Time"), "We A Say One," "Chant Down Oppression," and "Poverty Haffi Done." They later recorded "Can't Test We," for producer Skeng Don's SKD Label, and "Mi Lover," for Yammy Productions. Eventually, with the very careful assistance of Executive Producer, Phillip Johnson, the group soon established their very own "Higgs & Twin" recording label, on which they released one of their best yet selections, the "Glamour Girl." The single was manufactured and distributed by Sonic Sounds and

Jet Star, respectively. 

   Higgs & Twin had done background vocals for a number of artists, but had left their indelible mark on both Lloyd Lovindeer's "Wild Gilbert, " and  Alpha Blondy's "Jerusalem," albums. Both albums went gold and platinum, respectively. Marcia had also backed up her own father on his "Triumph" album, which topped, and stayed on the "Billboard" charts in excess of 13 weeks. In the 1980s, after the passing of the legendary "King Of Reggae," Bob Marley, Marcia Higgs was invited to tour the US with the Wailers Band. They performed at a host of venues, which included a Private Party for a renown Hollywood movie star at his Malibu Hills mansion in California. It was then and there, that Marcia was reunited with her father, Joe Higgs, who, for a number of years, had resided in Los Angeles (in self-imposed exile). Much to the audience's delight, the two performed a duet. 

    Higgs & Twin enjoyed working on many stages including Synergy's Reggae Sunsplash 1988 and 1989, Super Don's DJ Roll Call, and Bagga Brown's Red Label Reggae Cable. The group also had the pleasure of opening for America's legendary, "The Manhattans" and "The Temptations," at the Sheraton and Jamaica Pegasus Hotels, respectively. Higgs & Twin later embarked on their debut US tour, performing at venues like The Roxxy's in Philadelphia and SOB' in New York. In 1989, the group was approached by one of Jamaica's sweetest voices, the spectacular, Pam Hall, to perform her composition, "Girls' Time" which she wrote for the JCDC song festival compitition. During the all-island festive tour, Higgs & Twin quickly became favorites, and were predicted by journalists and the general public to win the contest, but when the group was sidestepped by the judges, the public was evidently very displeased with the results, and so, this stirred an all-island controversey. Higgs & Twin did however receive their undeniable, and very well deserved "Best Performance" award, that included a trophy and a generous cash prize, which the group donated to charity. 

    Shortly after that experience, Higgs & Twin migrated to the USA, with "Higgs" moving to Los Angeles, and the "Twin" to New York. Nevertheless, Marcia did not totally abandon her musical passion, instead, she ventured out as a soloist, and resumed recording for producer, King Jammy's, such singles as "Not Bitter But Better," "My Kani," "Female Entertainers," "What You Want," and "Positive Reasons." She also recorded a CD titled "Wild & Wet" for Los Angeles based R & C Productions, and sang background vocals for the San Francisco based hottest reggae group / band, "Groundation" on their "Each One Teach One," album. She also gave a smooth toast on Oboeist, Anna Fisher's rendition of

"I Can See Clearly." On January 7, 2001, Marcia Higgs gave an unforgettable performance at the Ethiopian World Federation Christmas Celebration, at the El Ray Theatre in Beverly Hills, California. The show was an EWF Local #25 Presentation. Later that year, she accompanied her musical brothers, the Wailing Souls, on their US Summer Tour as a background vocalist.

      Marcia Higgs had worked extensively with her late father,  performing in at least seven cities in Japan, including Tokyo, Okinawa and Hiroshima at Reggae Japansplash. They also shared many stages within the US and various other international isles as well. Most notable, they did an EP (Extended Play) entitled "Joe & Marcia Together: Roots Combination."

 

      Marcia Higgs is currently working on a new CD entitled "RESTORED," which will be in stores by the summer of 2007. This 15 track album will be recorded and produced by Boston's ace reggae band, Dis-N-Dat.