Cynthia Richards | |
---|---|
Birth name | Sinthia Richards |
Born | 1944 Duhaney Park, Jamaica |
Genres | Reggae |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1960s – 1970s |
Labels | Studio One, Trojan, Clandisc |
Cynthia Richards (born Sinthia Richards, 1944) is a Jamaican singer whose career began in the 1960s.
Born in Duhaney Park, Kingston, Jamaica, in 1944, Richards attended the Denham Town Primary School where after impressing teachers with a performance at an end-of-term concert she was encouraged to appear on the Vere Johns Talent Show. [1] While working as a magistrate's clerk, she continued her career, working in the 1960s with Bobby Aitken's Carib Beats band and later the Falcons (with a young Dennis Brown), Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, and the Mighty Vikings. [1] She recorded her debut single, "How Could I", in 1969, produced by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd for his Studio One label. [1] Although this wasn't a success, it brought her to the attention of Clancy Eccles, who produced "Foolish Fool", which became a major hit in Jamaica. [1] She also recorded as one half of the duo Cynthia & Archie. [2] She moved on to work with several producers, including Duke Reid, for whom she recorded "Jungle Fever", "Sentimental Reason", and "Aily I", the latter a hit with UK reggae audiences in 1972. [1] Other producers she worked with included Alvin Ranglin and Larry Lawrence, before moving into self-production with singles such as "Mr. Postman", and had further chart success in Jamaica with her version of The Staple Singers' "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)". [1] She was voted Top Female Artist of 1973 in Jamaica and toured with Elmo and Toots and the Maytals. [1] Later in the 1970s she worked as a backing singer, contributing to Beres Hammond's 1976 album Soul Reggae and Pat Kelly's 1978 album Lonely Man. [3]