Marcia Higgs

UPCOMING EVENTS:

REGGAE YOUR BLUES AWAY
http://myspace.com/rustyzinn
Also Feat. JOURNALIST BANDOO
and MARCIA HIGGS
Backed By The "IRS" BAND

(Part 1)
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The Western Front Club
343 Western Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
Doors Open: 8:00pm
Showtime: 10:00pm
Cover Charge: Only $10

(Part 2)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Bill's Bar
5.5 Lansdowne St
Boston, MA 02215
Doors Open: 8:00pm
Showtime: 10:00pm
Cover Charge: Only $10

2ND ANNUAL JOE HIGGS MUSIC AWARDS (JHMA)
Saturday, December 8, 2007 @ 8pm
Simmons College of Arts & Sciences
300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115

MARCIA "PINKY" HIGGS

MARCIA HIGGS, a/k/a
"Sister Higgs," is daughter of "Father Of Reggae Music," Joe Higgs. She began her musical mission in High School at age 16, when, as a solo artist, recorded her debut singles "Drifting Love" and "Sea Of Love," (both adapted) on the various artists album, "Juvenile Delinquent." The album was produced by renown Bob Marley & The Wailers Ace Bass Player, and Producer Aston "Familyman" Barrett, (husband of her sister, Angella "Dimples" Higgs).
The album was recorded at Tuff Gong International Studios at 56 Hope Road, in Kingston, (a residence that was previously home to both the Higgs and Marley families). "Juvenile Delinquent" was officially distributed on the Clappers label by VP Records.

"When I took my personal copy of this album home and had my father listen to it, he told me, "Your voice is in-sync with the rhythm, and is sounding quite mellow, but your constant jestering tend to defeat the purpose of the product!" He went on to say that at 16 years old, my first priority should definitely be to focus on my education. Well, to tell the truth, "I" felt seriously put down by my own father, but no child 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, how he used to warn us," she reminisced.

Yup... Dad and Me

Well, much to her father's delight, Marcia 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 wake up at five in the mornings to be at "school" on time, and so I wanted to do something that was far less confined, like touring the world," she smiled. Well, through it all, her passion for the music still remained, and ultimately, Marcia teamed up with her identical twin cousins, Pauline & Paulette Robinson, to form 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," followed by "Jump Up Time," (from which they did the radio Disc Jock jingles, "Richie B Time" for he who needs no introduction, and "Hopeton Brown Time" for Philadelphia's WKDU Radio DJ, Hopeton Brown). The group also did "We A Say One," "Chant Down Oppression a/k/a Africa Must Be Free," "Poverty Haffi Done," and a dancehall version of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love," among others, for King Jammys. Their single "Can't Test We," was recorded for producer Skeng Don's SKD Label, and "Mi Lover," for the late Producer, Yammy from NY. Eventually, with the very careful assistance of her Executive Producer, Phillip Johnson,(author of the novel "Blood Posse") the group soon established their own "Higgs & Twin" recording label, on which they released one of their best yet selections, the "Glamour Girl," which was manufactured and distributed by Sonic Sounds and Jet Star, respectively.

In Photo Below: Higgs & Twin

Marcia Higgs, Paulette Robinson, and Pauline Robinson.

Higgs & Twin had done background vocals for a number of artists, but had left their indelible mark on Lovindeer's 1988 hurricane anthem "Wild Gilbert" and West Africa's Reggae icon, Alpha Blondy, backed by The Wailers "Jerusalem" albums. Both albums sold gold and platinum, respectively. Marcia also did background vocals on a couple of tracks of her father's "Triumph" album, which 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, had resided in Los Angeles (in self-imposed exile)for a number of years, and much to the audience's delight, both father and daughter performed a duet.

Higgs & Twin enjoyed working on many stages including Synergy's Reggae Sunsplash 1988 and 1989, Radio DJ Super Don's DJ Roll Call, and Radio DJ Bagga Brown's Red Label Reggae Cable. The group also had pleasure opening for such American Legends as, "The Manhattans" and "The Temptations," at the Sheraton and 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 most Legendary voices, the spectacular, Pam Hall, to perform her composition, "Girls' Time, a/k/a/ A Lie Dem A Tell Pon We," which she wrote for the JCDC song festival competition. During the all-island festive tour, Higgs & Twin quickly became favorites, and were vastly predicted by the journalists and the general public to win the contest, but when the group was apparently side-stepped by the judges, who declared "Stop & Go" the winning song, the general public whom was evidently very displeased with the results, began throwing debris on the stage of the National Arena, shouting (((Higgs & Twins))). Such conduct got so out of controll, that all the performers, including Higgs & Twin, had to run backstage for cover. Needless to say, this continued on into the streets, stirring for days, 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. Higgs & Twin Could've??? Should've??? Would've??? been Jamaica's very first "female" (individual or group) ever to win that competition since its inception when Jamaica became an independent nation in the year 1962. Shortly after that experience, Higgs & Twin migrated to the USA, with "Higgs" moving to Los Angeles, and "Twin" to New York City.

Nevertheless, Marcia did not totally abandon her musical passion, instead, a few years later, she ventured out as a soloist, and resumed recording for producer, King Jammy's, such singles as "Not Bitter But Better," "Female Entertainers," "My Kani," "What You Want," "Gone Down Too Young," and "Positive Reasons." She also recorded a CD entitled "Wild And Wet" for Los Angeles based R & C Productions, and sang background vocals for the San Francisco based hottest reggae band, "Groundation" on their "Each One Teach One," album. She also gave a smooth toast, entitled "Hip Hop Hooray Oh" on Oboeist, Anna Fisher's very classic rendition of "I Can See Clearly." On January 7, 2001, (according to one writer of the LA Opinion) Marcia Higgs gave an unforgettable performance for the Ethiopian World Federation (EWF) Christmas Celebration, at the El Rey Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA. The event was an EWF Local #25 Presentation, which was put on by EWF member and LA's youngest Promoter, Empress Marsha, A/K/A Black Madhane. Later that year, Marcia Higgs accompanied her musical brothers, Wailing Souls, on their US Summer Tour as a backup vocalist.

Marcia had worked extensively with her late father, performing in at least seven cities in Japan, including Tokyo, Okinawa and Hiroshima at the annual Reggae Japansplash. They also shared many stages within the US and various other international isles as well. Most notable is an EP (Extended Play) entitled "Joe And Marcia Together: Roots Combination." Joe Higgs finally lost his battle to cancer, on Friday, December 18, 1999.

In Photo Below:
Mighty Mystic, (JHMA Rising Star award recipient),
Marcia Higgs, (Founder of the JHMA)
Wingy Danejah, (JHMA Inspirational Artist award recipient),
and Sean Manigault of 777 Promotions.

In the year 2006, Marcia established the "JOE HIGGS MUSIC AWARDS" (JHMA) in honorable memory of her late father. The 2006 First Annual JOE HIGGS MUSIC AWARDS was held on December 8th, at the Florida International University (FIU) campus in Miami. For the 2006 JHMA results, and/or to nominate your favorite artist(s) for the 2007 Second Annual JOE HIGGS MUSIC AWARDS, (scheduled for Saturday, December 8, 2007) please visit our website at "JOE HIGGS MUSIC AWARDS.COM."

JHMA International Artist, Anna Fisher, Plays The Oboe

In Photo Below: Members of Jah Cure camp. Jah Cure won both Male Singer and Songwriter of the year awards.

Marcia Higgs is currently working on her new album, which will be available in the summer of 2007. This 15 track album is being co-produced by Boston's ace performing reggae band... Dis-N-Dat.

THANKS for all of your booking requests. Please be adviced that some dates I'm offered do conflict and in such cases, I must make choices... SO... while I cannot fulfill all your requests right now, PLEASE note that the very near future awaits. Blessed Love!!!