The Yabba Griffiths Story by Yabba Griffiths

"Reggae Party"

Is a fun lively upbeat tune for all occasions with lyrics that show the artist's humorous and at times his hilarious side.

"Dance Little Children"

Takes us back to the basics in life, dance to cleanse the mind and body of the toxins and stress of every day life.

"Bang Bang Song"

Is a high energy song that can lift up your spirit and can be played any where, any time.

"Revolution Song"

Points out something missing in life and directs us to get back to our roots .

"Hold on to this feeling"

Is a message - without love you have nothing.

"Bad Girl", "Radical", "I've Got The Gold" and "I'm Myself Again"

Are all 5 star songs for vocal work and 4 stars for music.

By Cijai, Colmark Productions

MARCUS YABBA GRIFFITHS AKA: YABBA

A multi-talented musician whose repertoire includes vocalist, song writer,

performer, arranger, band leader, guitarist and producer. Marcus Yabba Griffiths was born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica. From age 11 he lived in Kingston, Jamaica. While performing as a member of the vocal group, Gold Tones, Griffiths recorded a single entitled "Girl Exposer" for Duke Reid's Treasure Isle Label. The release caught the attention of Rendford Cogle (songwriter for The Melodians). Cogle wrote "Lock Love Away" for Griffiths to sing on Sonia Pottinger's Hi-Note Label and, in 1969, the song went to #8 on the Top Ten charts in Jamaica. This same year he recorded a song for Clancy Ecoles, "Don't Break The Heart That Love You," and later re-recorded the song - then another which was Never released - for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd of Studio One.

Moving from singing to playing guitar as a studio musician, Griffiths worked

with the great musicians and singers of Jamaica - Bunny Wailer, Soul Syndicate, Gregory Isaacs, Roots Radics, Carlton and Family Man Barrett, Ronnie Davis, Lloyd Parks, Winston Grennan, Jackie Jackson, Hux Brown, Winston Wright, Lynn Taitt, Jackie Mittoo, Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, The Tamlins, Bobby Colphat, and many others earl chinna smith.

Griffiths joined Charles Hannah and The Graduates in 1972, and 1974 found

Him touring Jamaica with Solid Foundation. During this time, he recorded the first version of his big hit, "Devil Woman," featuring The Tamlins; Devil Woman was released as a single in the U.S. and U.K. in 1976 and captured "hit song" status in metropolitan New York and Chicago.

In 1976, he toured the U.S. with Big Youth and the band Creation. After the

tour ended he joined The Black Eagles (now known as Morgan Heritage), then

moved to New York City in 1977 to form Yahtova (God Love). Still based in New York, Griffiths, with Patrick "Shaka" Hochen, founded Traxx in 1979; Yabba Griffiths and Traxx relocated to Chicago, IL, in 1980, briefly joining Forces with Alligator Records.

Marcus Yabba Griffiths & Traxx released their first album, Thrill Of Victory,

in 1986 on the New York based Gyasi label; Thrill Of Victory was named one of the best new albums of the year in Europe. During the summer of 1989, Griffiths met producer Greg Errico, a founding member of Sly & The Family Stone, and Errico produced Traxx's second album, Reviver, recorded in Sausalito, CA.

Griffiths' third album, Only Yabba, was recorded in 1997 and released in 1998 on Myjaki Records; Only Yabba features 11 songs including "Baby Sugar," a re-make of "Devil Woman." Good Reggae Music, an ep-cd featuring four songs, was released April 7, 2001 on Griffiths' Su-Cram Records label, and is followed by a full length CD entitled The Yabba Griffiths' Story, also on Su-Cram and will be released on March 11th 2002.

Awards and Honors

Yabba Griffiths' awards and honors include:

1. Chicago's First Reggae Festival Arts Award - 1982

 #1 Reggae Band

 Best Male Vocalist

2. 2nd Annual International Reggae Music Arts Awards - 1983

 Most Talented Musician

3. 4th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1984

 Most Outstanding Showman

4. 5th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1985

 Best Male Vocalist

5. 7th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards- 1987

 Outstanding Contributions To Reggae Music

6. 8th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1988

 Most Talented Musician

7. 9th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1989

 Most Talented Entertainer

 Best Male Vocalist

8. 9th Annual International Reggae Music Arts Awards - 1990

 Outstanding Contributions To Reggae Music

9. 10th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1990

 Most Talented Musician

10. 11th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1991

 Outstanding Contributions To Reggae Music

11. 12th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1992

 Best Song for "More Jamaican"

12. 13th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1993

 Most Outstanding Musician

13. 14th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1994

 Most Talented Entertainer

14. 15th Annual Chicago Reggae Music Awards - 1995

 Most Talented Entertainer

Traxx is:

Marcus Yabba Griffiths - lead vocals, guitar

Anthony Lewis - bass guitar

Jubal Davis - rhythm and bass guitar

Ira Doughty - drums and keyboards

Muntheru Shah - drums, percussion

Charles Taylor - keyboards, background vocals

Russell Owens - keyboards, background vocals

Mandingo Guadelupe - percussion, drums, background vocals

Professional Experience

Marcus Yabba Griffiths & Traxx's performances includes concerts at The Taste Of Chicago, Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival, Rock Island, Ya Maka Ma Weekend, Grand Emporium, Music Box, Park West, Cubby Bear, House Of Blues, 1st Avenue, Cabooze, Wild Hare, and many more. They have shared the stage with Roland Alphonso, Yellowman, Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy, Dean Frazer, Tony Rebel, Ken Parker, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, The Mighty Sparrow, Ken Boothe, Toots & The Maytals, The Mighty Diamonds, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, and many others.

Colmark Productions is a full service marketing and public relations agency that is primarily involved in promoting recording artists, concerts and entertainment events; the agency specializing in Reggae music. For more information please e-mail colmarkprod@hotmail.com or traxxonlyyabba@hotmail.com

For additional information on Marcus Yabba Griffiths & Traxx, visit

http://members.aol.com/Mujaahid48. A new web site for Traxx is currently being developed; the URL will be announced in the near future. Distribution of promotional copies of Good Reggae Music will begin in mid May; promotional copies of Only Yabba will also be available to the media. Distribution outlets for Good Reggae Music and Only Yabba will be announced in the near future.

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