Marcia Griffiths, one of the most enduring figures in global reggae music, has continued her decades-long streak of staying culturally relevant with a brand-new release. Titled *When You Love Me*, the track marks a new collaborative partnership between the iconic vocalist, acclaimed producer Sean Lewis Folkes, and prominent South Florida backing ensemble Code Red Band. The single officially dropped June 5 via Folkes’ own LF Label imprint.
Folkes, a producer with an established track record of working with revered reggae acts including Ed Robinson, Luciano, and Pressure Busspipe, shared glowing feedback about his experience collaborating with Griffiths, describing the project as remarkably seamless from start to finish. In an interview with Observer Online, he emphasized that the partnership was rooted in shared professional respect and deep reverence for reggae’s core traditions. “Marcia comes to every project fully prepared, yet remains open to intuitive creative shifts, constantly refining melodies to center the song’s core message,” Folkes explained. “Her calm, focused energy in the studio guarantees every track retains its authenticity, grounding each work in cultural integrity and intentional artistry.”
Griffiths’ seven-decade career in music is a testament to her unique ability to adapt and remain beloved by new generations of listeners. She launched her professional career in the early 1960s, breaking into the industry as a rocksteady artist at Jamaica’s iconic Studio One, where her career quickly gained momentum by the end of the decade. Unlike many of her peers from the early reggae and rocksteady eras who faded from mainstream attention, Griffiths has consistently maintained her relevance by partnering with forward-thinking producers who understand current musical currents.
Her career evolution has seen her find success across multiple eras of Jamaican popular music. In the 1970s, she earned global acclaim as a member of The I Three, Bob Marley’s iconic harmony trio, touring across the world with the reggae legend. That same decade, she recorded a string of classic hit singles including *Dreamland* and *Stepping outa Babylon* for pioneering producer Sonia Pottinger. In 1982, she released her best-selling track, *Electric Boogie*, written by the legendary Bunny Wailer.
The 1990s brought a new wave of popularity for Griffiths when she found a fanbase among dancehall audiences, recording a run of hits including *I Shall Sing*, *Land of Love*, and *Fire Burning* for Donovan Germain’s influential Penthouse Records. At the start of her career at Studio One, she was mentored by celebrated singer-songwriter Bob Andy, with whom she recorded collaborative hits including *Really Together*; her solo breakthrough hits from that era also include fan-favorites *Feel Like Jumping* and *Mark my Word*.
Now, with her latest release, the 70-plus-year career veteran shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to add new chapters to her legacy as one of reggae’s most iconic voices.