Cynthia Richards

Cynthia Richards (born Sinthia Richards, 1944) is a Jamaican singer whose career began in the 1960s.

Biography

Born in Duhaney Park, Kingston, Jamaica, in 1944, Richards attended the Denham Town Primary School where after impressing teachers with a performance at an end-of-term concert she was encouraged to appear on the Vere Johns Talent Show.^[1] While working as a magistrate's clerk, she continued her career, working in the 1960s with Bobby Aitken's Carib Beats band and later the Falcons (with a young Dennis Brown), Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, and the Mighty Vikings.^[1] She recorded her debut single, "How Could I", in 1969, produced by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd for his Studio One label.^[1] Although this wasn't a success, it brought her to the attention of Clancy Eccles, who produced "Foolish Fool", which became a major hit in Jamaica.^[1] She also recorded as one half of the duo Cynthia & Archie.^[2] She moved on to work with several producers, including Duke Reid, for whom she recorded "Jungle Fever", "Sentimental Reason", and "Aily I", the latter a hit with UK reggae audiences in 1972.^[1] Other producers she worked with included Alvin Ranglin and Larry Lawrence, before moving into self-production with singles such as "Mr. Postman", and had further chart success in Jamaica with her version of The Staple Singers' "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)".^[1] She was voted Top Female Artist of 1973 in Jamaica and toured with Elmo and Toots and the Maytals.^[1] Later in the 1970s she worked as a backing singer, contributing to Beres Hammond's 1976 album Soul Reggae and Pat Kelly's 1978 album Lonely Man.^[3]

Discography

• Foolish Fool (1969), Clan Disc (Trojan)
• Conversation (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
• Promises (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
• Can't Wait (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
• I Was Just Thinking About You (1970), Clan Disc (Trojan)
• United We Stand (1970), Pressure Drop (Trojan)
• Stand By Your Man (1971), Clan Disc (Trojan)
• Is There A Place In Your Heart For Me (1971), GG Records (Trojan)
• Moving On (1971), Big Shot
• Aily I (1973), Attack (Trojan)
• Sentimental Reason (1973), Lord Koos
• If You're Ready Come Go With Me (1974)
• Think About Me (1974), Cactus
• Keep It In The Family (1974), Cactus
• I Shall Not Remove (1977), Grove Music

As Clancy and Cynthia

• Tomorrow (1971), Clan Disc (Trojan)

References