'even the newest stars are honored'
Louisa Mark
REAL NAME:
BIRTH PLACE:
Louisa 'Markswoman' Mark was voted top female reggae vocalist of 1978 ahead of Marcia Griffiths. Her sweet vocal style and updated rock steady rhythms have made her a Queen of Lovers Rock.
The fledgling singer cut her first record at the age of 15 for Sound System operator Lloyd Coxone, 'Caught you in a lie', proved a huge hit amongst the reggae-listening audience, a heartfelt cry of misplaced trust, then followed by another monster success entitled 'All My Loving'. Despite popularity, Louisa quit recording for over 18 months because of contractual desputes.
She was then linked up with house producer, and A&R manager for Trojan records Clem Bushay, veteran of the UK reggae scene, cutting her next hit 'Keep it Like This'. Again the song was well received but poor promotion proved disillusioning and despite the terms of her one year contract she declined to record further.
Once free from Trojan Louisa Mark music began to take off in a big way, her rendition of Michael Jackson's 'Even Though You're Gone' released on the producer's Bushay's label selling strongly in the summer.
Then followed up with a monster '6, Six Street' penned by Joe Charles, Clem Bushay and The In Crowd, which hit the number one spot in practically the first week of release.
BIRTH PLACE:
Louisa 'Markswoman' Mark was voted top female reggae vocalist of 1978 ahead of Marcia Griffiths. Her sweet vocal style and updated rock steady rhythms have made her a Queen of Lovers Rock.
The fledgling singer cut her first record at the age of 15 for Sound System operator Lloyd Coxone, 'Caught you in a lie', proved a huge hit amongst the reggae-listening audience, a heartfelt cry of misplaced trust, then followed by another monster success entitled 'All My Loving'. Despite popularity, Louisa quit recording for over 18 months because of contractual desputes.
She was then linked up with house producer, and A&R manager for Trojan records Clem Bushay, veteran of the UK reggae scene, cutting her next hit 'Keep it Like This'. Again the song was well received but poor promotion proved disillusioning and despite the terms of her one year contract she declined to record further.
Once free from Trojan Louisa Mark music began to take off in a big way, her rendition of Michael Jackson's 'Even Though You're Gone' released on the producer's Bushay's label selling strongly in the summer.
Then followed up with a monster '6, Six Street' penned by Joe Charles, Clem Bushay and The In Crowd, which hit the number one spot in practically the first week of release.
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RWW FASHION FEATURE - 'BRIDGET SANDALS'
Novia McDonald-Whyte - Contributing editor Jamaica Observer
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Sandals designer Bridget say "Bridget sandals" in Jamaica and fashion watchers, as well as lovers of sexy leather straps, will smile the smug smile of those in the know. It has been, for Bridget Brown, (known by thousands as Bridget), a journey of twenty-odd years. The fact is, the leather soles of her sandals almost left her barefooted on several occasions. "It took me three years," Bridget tells SunDay to get my feet off the ground. I paid the price for not going to school. I had to endure artisans not cutting the leather properly, bad work attitude, sabotage, you name it, I went through it."
A baptism of fire, some might be tempted to add for the former Playboy Bunny. "I was a bunny between 1972 and 1977 at the Playboy Boscobel Beach," says Bridget, flashing her signature toothy smile, and still conscious of that bunny poise.
"Playboy was forced to close (no tourists were coming to Jamaica). I was forced to come back to Kingston. I had to find some means of survival. My first stop was G's One of a Kind -- an upscale boutique that sold one-of-a kind Italian shoes and clothing. I left that in May 1981, after Bob Marley's death. I sold pound-cloth for Carmen Brown of Karmen's Corner. "There I was with my scale underneath my arm, and my cushions at my side. I really never wanted to make sandals. I also made skull caps and crochet bags."
Start she did and never looked back. Bridget even found the time and finances to attend school in Milan. "I went to school out of curiosity. I wondered if I was doing something wrong. Little did I know that I was in fact doing something right. My customers are happy, the sandals are fitting right, and I, too, am satisfied. I admire what I am doing."
No idle boast. Bridget Sandals were on the runway at New York Fashionweek, and Caribbean Fashionweek. Bridget Sandals are in Barbados, St Kitts, Antigua, Lincoln Avenue, South Beach (Miami), in the Village (New York) and at Controversy -- Battersea London.
Come next season, there's the possibility of a shipment to Japan, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Dallas.
"You have to be skilfull to survive. It has been a 20-year fight for survival. It's a struggle to maintain quality, confidence, style, craftsmanship. Finally, you have to have integrity in business."
As the chat comes to an end and Bridget does that Bridget walk towards her taxi, and there's a feeling that the very best is still to come from this beautiful sister.
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