Milwaukee is a town that has long suffered a severe drought when it comes to visits from international-level reggae performers, but this week or so, there are three! Even better, two of the three shows are free.
First up is veteran Jamaican dancehall and lover’s rock singer Twiggi – now based in Miami – who peforms at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 on the RushMor Records stage at Bay View Bash. Admission to the festival, which raises funds for the nonprofit Bay View Community Fund, is free.
Twiggi (aka Marie Elliot) got started in the business in 1989 and over the years has been part of the stables at top Jamaican labels like Penthouse and Shocking Vibes. She has also recorded inspirational music, including on th album, “Sun Shines Through.”
As a backing singer with Toots and the Maytals she won a Grammy award in 2020 and her own tune “It’s Too Late” has been hugely successful in Africa and Asia.
We caught up with Twiggi to ask about her career, his latest music and what you can expect when she performs at Bay View Bash this weekend.
OnMilwaukee: I know you are an established star in the reggae music world, but for folks who don't know, give us a quick refresher on your career.
Twiggi: I was dragged into the industry in 1989, when my sister introduced me to Tinga Stewart and asked him to give me an audition. He took her up on the offer and asked me to record some harmonies on a new song he was getting ready to release entitled “Love Again.“
He was pleased with the end result and ran with the project to the likes of Boris Gardner, Ruddy Thomas, Derrick Harriott, Dobby Dobson and they in turn took me under their wings and had me recording in studio and doing some onstage work with Boris also.
Around that time , I met Toots’ (Hibbert) son Hopeton, who introduced me to his sisters who needed a singer to complete their group 54-46, they also gave me an audition and accepted me as a part of the group.
We did several tours and shows together, even doing “Top of the Pops” (on television) in London. Eventually their dad invited us to become a part of his group Toots and the Maytals and I toured with them for about 30 years.
In the same vein, the Japanese came to Jamaica and chose me as one of the artists they wanted to do major recordings and tours with, so I teamed up with their main act Nahki in doing many recordings, some as background vocalist and others as a lead singer. In that process Sony Japan teamed up with them and recorded an album with myself and another vocalist of a Mariah Carey hit in reggae style and it was a massive hit.
It was in Japan during one of my tours that I met Donovan Germaine backstage and he asked me to become a part of the Penthouse crew. I recorded and toured with Penthouse for about six years then I went on to Shocking Vibes Records and the rest is history.
Was it exciting to be part of the Penthouse crew in those days when Germain was making the best dancehall records, with Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel, Buju, Galaxy P, Mickey Simpson and all the rest?
Yes it was quite exciting being a part of Penthouse crew in the ‘90s. That stable was the hottest crew in dancehall at the time. I was constantly recording and touring with my stablemates, especially Buju Banton, Beres (Hammond), Marcia Griffiths, Wayne Wonder, Garnet.
It was at that time of my career that I had some of my biggest hits and Twiggi became a household name. One of my biggest hits out of Penthoyse is the song “ Want It “ with Buju Banton and it is still popular to this date.
In addition to your own records, you've recorded with a lot of the top names in reggae, from Burning Spear to Luciano to Marcia Griffiths. Has that been rewarding work in its own way?
Yes I recorded with some of the biggest names in reggae. For some of them I was just a supporting vocalist like Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Sizzla, Sting (The Police), Alpha Blondy, Steel Pulse just to name a few but for the most part , I recorded collaborations with the lines of Marcia Griffiths, Luciano, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Wayne Wonder, amongst others .
I think doing works with the likes of those legends helped to pave the way for bigger moves in my career and kept me out there as one of Jamaica’s finest vocalists, which opened many doors for me locally and internationally.
Tell us a bit about your latest music. Do you have a new record out?
I have a few newer music released between 2021 to date, one of which was produced by Penthouse recordings, it’s entitled “When I Think about You.“ Also there is “Never Let Us Down” recorded for a young producer in the UK, “Love Lost,” released 2022, and “Do That” in 2023.
There is a new song to be released soon and I’m excited about it, as it’s a fusion-style production that will shine a new light on my vocal flexibility.
You're touring now and coming to Milwaukee. What can fans expect in terms of the songs you'll perform and who is in your backing band?
I’ve been to Milwaukee on many occasions but as a Maytal, this will be my first time as Twiggi. I plan to showcase the genre right across the board, paying homage to the greats in reggae, introducing the audience to some of my hit songs – both dancehall and contemporary reggae.
I will not be using a band so I will be showcasing the sound system in a special light and I will also feature a special guest musician to play and sing with me. My set should be a very balanced one that introduces those who do not know me to a different aspect of the genre, I hope.
Black Uhuru
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the current iteration of legendary Jamaican roots harmony group Black Uhuru lands at Shank Hall, 1434 N. Farwell Ave. for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $35.
Though Derrick “Duckie” Simpson is the sole original member, the group has had a number of lineup changes over the groups 50+ years, and which one is the “classic” lineup is probably a matter of taste.
But what’s not up for discussion is the looming presence that Duckie and Uhuru hold in the pantheon of great Jamaican singing groups.
These days, Uhuru is two, with Andrew Bees singing lead, something he’s done since the late ‘90s (though there was a hiatus in there, too, for Bees).
Expect a mix of tunes from across the group’s long career, including “I Love King Selassie,” “Plastic Smile,” “World Is Africa,” “Solidarity,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and others.
The Viceroys
Another of my all-time favorite roots reggae harmony groups is The Viceroys and although the founding member Wesley Tinglin died in 2018 and long-time member Neville Ingram has also passed, their late-era compatriot Michael Gabbidon is carrying on the tradition with the help of Andrew Coombs, who has also had a career as a solo singer.
The Viceroys debuted in 1967 for no less than Coxsone Dodd’s landmark Studio One and the recordings the group did for Dodd are among their best. But later they also made some great records for Phil Pratt, Winston Riley, Clive Chin and Sly & Robbie, as well as a couple ace sets for Linval Thompson.
Over the years there were lineup changes – including bringing in Norris Reid from Augustus Pablo’s Rockers stable for a time (he was replaced by another young singer, Chris Wayne) – but Ingram’s plaintive voice was always the highlight during the '70s and '80s period.
In 2006, the group made an incredible acoustic-focused LP as part of the Inna de Yard series.
Backed by Roots Renegades band, the current iteration of The Viceroys will play Friday, Sept. 27 at the Drunken Cobra, 6818 W. North Ave., in Tosa. There is no cover charge. Show starts at 7 p.m.
UPDATE: The Viceroys have added a show on Saturday, Sept. 28 at McAuliffe's Pub, 3700 Meachem Rd. in Racine.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
