Marcia Griffiths Says the I-Threes Began With Her Idea Before Bob Marley Called

Marcia Griffiths is setting the record straight about how the I-Threes came together, saying the harmony group was her idea before Bob Marley invited the singers to work with him. In a recent recollection, the veteran performer described an unexpected musical partnership that grew into years of recording and touring alongside Marley. The story began at Studio One, where Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley were brought in to sing harmonies on a Horace Andy track. Griffiths said none of the three arrived expecting to form a group. As they left the studio, she asked Mowatt and Rita Marley to back her for a three-night run of solo performances that weekend. The singers quickly worked out harmonies for Griffiths’ songs, including “Dreamland” and “Stepping Out of Babylon.” On the final night, they began an impromptu set of songs associated with the Sweet Inspirations. Griffiths recalled that the audience responded warmly, prompting her to suggest they form a group. She proposed the name I-Threes, explaining that it expressed the idea of “We Three” through the word “I.” According to Griffiths, Bunny Wailer approved of the name. The trio’s first performance came as Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer were experiencing a major split. Marley heard about the singers and asked them to provide harmonies on “Natty Dread.” Griffiths said they initially believed they were contributing to one song, but Marley later called them back for “Jah Live.” Their work then extended across the full “Natty Dread” album. The I-Threes went on to record on Marley’s later albums and tour with him. Griffiths estimated that their time on the road together lasted about seven years. She said she had initially viewed performing as something she loved, without fully grasping its wider significance. Seeing Marley’s dedication, she came to regard the music as more than entertainment, describing his commitment to it as absolute.