Sweet Reggae Vibes from Twiggi
Twiggi is one of the most talented female singer in the entertainment industry. Her songwriting skills and her soulful smooth voice enabled her to obtain an international recognition, in particular in Japan, Africa and Europe.
Twiggi, whose real name is Marie Gittens (her artist name is sometimes spelled Twiggy), was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She has been singing and performing since age five, first at church, to which she is still very close, and also at school.
She began her musical career in 1989 after a successful audition with the veteran singer Tinga Stewart doing background vocals in the studio. Very satisfied by her work, he introduced her to other producers like Boris Gardener and Ruddy Thomas.
Her career took off when she integrated Donovan Germain’s Penthouse Records label in 1993.
She recorded single after single, in a romantic repertory primarily, which were all chart toppers. The song “It’s Too Late” (on Champion riddim) was the biggest hit in Uganda (Africa) since the Beatles’s song “Michelle”. She was popular also in other places in Africa. This recognition allowed her to record her self-titled debut album for Penthouse in 1996 which contains a lot of her hits for this label (like her combination with Buju Banton “Want It”, “Where Did The Love Go” or “Do Me Baby”).
Her success in Japan, obtained thanks to her titles on “JaJaJah All Stars” compilations (jamaican versions of japanese hits), had led Sony Japan Records label to make her record an album of covers of Mariah Carey divided with Lorraine in 1995. That was a very successful project. During he first week of release in Japan, it sold over a hundred thousand copies.
She moved from Penthouse in 1997 and integrated the Shocking Vibes label the same year. She collaborated in particular with the main artist of the label, Beenie Man (remember her killer vocals on the title “Bad Mind Is Active – My Prerogative” on Beenie Man’s album Many Moods of Moses).
Apart from her collaborations with these labels, Twiggi also recorded for others labels like Digital B, Xterminator, Rookie Productions and High Power.
Twiggi has been providing background vocals for a number of Reggae’s most successful stars. Her mezzo soprano voice is always very appreciated in the reggae industry.
In studio, Twiggi has lent her voice to tracks for jamaican artists such as Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Steel Pulse, Sizzla, Beres Hammond, Luciano, Garnett Silk, Marcia Griffiths, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Lady Saw, just to name a few. She also worked for international reggae artists like Alpha Blondy (Africa), Snow (Canada), Pierpoljak (France), Nahki (Japan) and the pop superstar Sting. In many cases, Twiggi did the vocal arrangements for the tracks as well.
She is also popular on stage and has toured the world with Reggae Superstars like Buju Banton, Wayne Wonder, Garnett Silk in the 90s and Toots & The Maytals since 1990.
Twiggi has now dedicated her career to teaching about love and righteous living through her music and plans to pursue it to the fullest. “Now I get to do what I really want to do” states Twiggi.
She recorded her first song inspired by her faith in God called “He’s Got The Power / Father” in 1998 for Digital B. Other titles came then “Glory and Honour” (2000 – Shocking Vibes) “Praises” (2002 – Penthouse Records) and “Search Yourself” (2002 – Joe Fraser).
Some of her lastest singles “Reaching Out To You” (2008), “You & You Alone” (2008), “Kiss Me One More Time” (2014), “Good Times” (2015), “With You I’m Born Again” (2016) and “Come In” (2017) are getting major airplay all over the world
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