Cynthia Richards

Cynthia Richards (born Sinthia Richards, 1944) is a Jamaican singer whose career began in the 1960s.

Cynthia Richards
Birth nameSinthia Richards
Born1944
Duhaney Park, Jamaica
GenresReggae
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1960s – 1970s
LabelsStudio One, Trojan, Clandisc

Biography

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]

Discography
  • Foolish Fool (1969), Clan Disc (Trojan)
  • Conversation (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
  • Promises (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
  • Can't Wait (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
  • I Was Just Thinking About You (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
  • United We Stand (1970), Pressure Drop (Trojan)
  • Stand By Your Man (1971), Clan Disc (Trojan)
  • Is There A Place in Your Heart For Me (1971), GG Records (Trojan)
  • Moving On (1971), Big Shot
  • Aily I (1973), Attack (Trojan)
  • Sentimental Reason (1973), Lord Koos
  • If You're Ready Come Go With Me (1974)
  • Think About Me (1974), Cactus
  • Keep It in the Family (1974), Cactus
  • I Shall Not Remove (1977), Grove Music

As Clancy and Cynthia
  • Tomorrow (1971), Clan Disc (Trojan)

References
  1. Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 250-251
  2. Thompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, p. 343
  3. Cynthia Richards Archived 27 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine at Roots Archives
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