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

Biography

Born in Duhaney Park,

Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley Inter ...

, 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 Joseph Vere Everette Johns (28 November 1893–10 September 1966

Talent Show.Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , p. 250-251 While working as a magistrate's clerk, she continued her career, working in the 1960s with

Bobby Aitken Bobby Aitken is a Cuban-born Jamaican guitarist and singer who had a string of hits in Jamaica in the 1960s and led the band The Carib Beats. Biography Aitken is the brother of Laurel Aitken, and recorded in the early 1960s for producer King ...

's Carib Beats band and later the Falcons (with a young

Dennis Brown Dennis Emmanuel Brown CD (1 February 1957 – 1 July 1999) was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of l ...

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, and the Mighty Vikings. She recorded her debut single, "How Could I", in 1969, produced by

Clement "Coxsone" Dodd Clement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd (26 January 1932 – 4 May 2004) was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond. He was nicknamed "Coxsone" at school due to his talent a ...

for his Studio One label. Although this wasn't a success, it brought her to the attention of

Clancy Eccles Clancy Eccles (9 December 1940 in Dean Pen, St. Mary, Jamaica – 30 June 2005 in Spanish Town, Jamaica)Katz was a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, songwriter, arranger, promoter, record producer and talent scout. Known mostly for his early regg ...

, who produced "Foolish Fool", which became a major hit in Jamaica. She also recorded as one half of the duo Cynthia & Archie.Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p. 343 She moved on to work with several producers, including

Duke Reid Arthur "Duke" Reid CD (21 July 1915 – 1 January 1975) was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner. He ran one of the most popular sound systems of the 1950s called Reid's Sound System, whilst Duke himself was known as The Troja ...

, for whom she recorded "Jungle Fever", "Sentimental Reason", and "Aily I", the latter a hit with UK reggae audiences in 1972. Other producers she worked with included

Alvin Ranglin Alvin 'GG' Ranglin (born 1942, Eden, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica)Greene (Alvin Ranglin Biography) is a Jamaican reggae singer, record producer and record label owner. Biography Ranglin started to sing in public in his teens with an Adventist Chur ...

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 The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples (December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000), the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha (April 11, 1934 – February 21 ...

' "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)". She was voted Top Female Artist of 1973 in Jamaica and toured with Elmo and

Toots and the Maytals The Maytals, known from 1972 to 2020 as Toots and the Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music. ...

. Later in the 1970s she worked as a backing singer, contributing to

Beres Hammond Beres Hammond Order of Jamaica, OJ (born Hugh Beresford Hammond; 28 August 1955, in Annotto Bay, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, Saint Mary, Jamaica)Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock St ...

's 1976 album ''Soul Reggae'' and Pat Kelly's 1978 album ''Lonely Man''.Cynthia Richards
at Roots Archives

Discography

*''Foolish Fool'' (1969), Clan Disc (

Trojan Trojan or Trojans may refer to: * Of or from the ancient city of Troy * Trojan language, the language of the historical Trojans Arts and entertainment Music * ''Les Troyens'' ('The Trojans'), an opera by Berlioz, premiered part 1863, part 189 ...

) *''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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Cynthia 1944 births Living people Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica 20th-century Jamaican women singers