I-Threes

I-Threes
Name	I-Threes
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Saint Andrew, Jamaica
Genre	Reggae, Roots reggae, Lovers rock
Years active	1974–present
Associated acts	Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Studio One

I-Threes The I-Threes were a Jamaican female vocal trio formed to provide backing vocals for Bob Marley and the Wailers and later pursued independent recording and international touring. The group became central to the late-1970s and early-1980s roots reggae sound, collaborating with leading producers and musicians from Kingston, London, and New York City. Their work connected reggae traditions with wider popular music through performances at events like the One Love Peace Concert and festivals such as Rototom Sunsplash.

Origin and formation

The trio originated in Kingston, Jamaica amid the island's vibrant music scene that produced figures such as Lee "Scratch" Perry, Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, and Toots Hibbert. Formed in 1974, they were recruited by Bob Marley when the lineup of Bob Marley and the Wailers shifted after collaborations with Chris Blackwell and Island Records. The group's inception drew on networks connected to studios like Studio One and producers including Lee "Scratch" Perry and Joe Gibbs, and intersected with artists such as Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, and John Holt.

Members and lineup changes

Original members included Rita Marley (born Rita Anderson), Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt, each with pre-existing careers linked to acts like The Soulettes, The Wailers (early formations), The Heptones, and labels such as Trojan Records and VP Records. Over time, occasional touring substitutions and studio collaborators involved singers and musicians associated with Sly and Robbie, The Upsetters, Skatalites, Zap Pow, Third World, and session artists from Channel One Studios. The trio's chemistry evolved alongside solo careers and connections to musicians like Aston "Familyman" Barrett, Carlton Barrett, Aston Barrett Jr., Tyrone Downie, and Al Anderson.

Musical style and contributions

The group's vocal blend combined elements drawn from Jamaican mento and ska traditions exemplified by The Skatalites with roots reggae arrangements prominent in recordings by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. Their harmonies enhanced politically charged songs associated with events such as the One Love Peace Concert and manifested in recordings produced by figures like Lee "Scratch" Perry, Chris Blackwell, Glen Adams, Tom Dowd, and Augie Johns. They contributed to tracks that addressed themes also explored by Marcus Garvey, Haile Selassie, and movements linked to Pan-Africanism and Rastafari, while intersecting with contemporaries such as Steel Pulse, Aswad, UB40, and The Police in crossover contexts.

Recordings and notable collaborations

As backing vocalists they appear on seminal albums and singles credited to Exodus, Kaya, Babylon by Bus, and live recordings from tours organized by Island Records in partnership with promoters like Bill Graham and venues including Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall. They recorded solo and trio projects released on labels associated with Island Records, Trojan Records, VP Records, and producers linked to Gussie Clarke, Joe Gibbs, Linval Thompson, and Norris "Norris" Reid. Collaborations extended to musicians such as Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Eric Clapton (who toured with Bob Marley and the Wailers), Mick Jagger (fan and collaborator contexts), and guest appearances alongside acts like Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, Sting, and Peter Gabriel at benefit concerts and festivals.

Live performances and tours

The I-Threes toured globally with Bob Marley and the Wailers on landmark tours that visitedUnited States, United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, and Japan, performing at major festivals and venues including the One Love Peace Concert, Lyceum Theatre, London, Rainbow Theatre, and stadium dates promoted by agencies linked to Bill Graham Presents and A&M Records distribution networks. They participated in political and charitable events alongside artists from The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, The Who, and reggae contemporaries such as Black Uhuru and Jah Cure. After Marley's death, the trio continued touring with Wailers-led ensembles, appearing at commemorations and retrospectives hosted by institutions like Smithsonian Institution and cultural festivals like Glastonbury Festival and Reggae Sunsplash.

Legacy and influence

The I-Threes left a lasting imprint on reggae vocal arranging, influencing female vocal groups and soloists including Dawn Penn, Linton Kwesi Johnson collaborators, Maxi Priest, Buju Banton vocal partners, and modern roots acts on labels such as Greensleeves Records and VP Records. Their approach informed harmonies used by bands like Steel Pulse, Aswad, UB40, Inner Circle, and Third World, and inspired later artists across genres including Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé, Adele, and Amy Winehouse who have cited reggae influences in interviews and recordings. The trio's recordings and live work continue to be featured in museum exhibits, documentary films about Bob Marley, and retrospectives curated by institutions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and archives maintained by Island Records and VP Records.

Category:Reggae musical groups Category:Jamaican musical groups