Biography
Cynthia Richards first captivated her classmates at Denham Town Primary School through performances at end-of-term concerts. A teacher encouraged her to enter Vere John's Talent Show, and the prize money helped launch her professional path. Outside music she served as a magistrate's clerk while also performing with veteran guitarist Bobby Aitken's Carib Beats Band.
After leaving that ensemble, she lent her voice to the Falcons, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires and the Mighty Vikings. Her debut single, "How Could I," appeared in 1969 on Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label but attracted little notice. Clancy Eccles, however, was sufficiently impressed to cut "Foolish Fool," which became a major Jamaican success and later surfaced in Britain, where it registered just below the pop chart. In 1970 she began working with Skin Flesh And Bones at the Tit-For-Tat club, all while sustaining her solo appearances. Disappointed by meager recording royalties, she stayed away from the studio until Duke Reid summoned her to record a version of "Clean Up Woman," the ballad "Sentimental Reasons" and the roots-oriented "Aily I," the last of which became a British reggae hit on the Attack label in 1972.
Additional sessions with producers Alvin "GG" Ranglin and Larry Lawrence yielded the modest successes "Place In My Heart" and "Change Partners." Frustrated by industry obstacles, Richards took independent control of her career. By 1972 she had written, produced and arranged "Mr. Postman," receiving assistance from Al Brown on the project. The following year she scored a hit with her rendition of the Staple Singers' "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)." Voted Top Female Artist of 1973, she joined Dennis Brown, Toots & The Maytals, Sharon Forrester and Al Brown on a Jamaica showcase tour, with Skin Flesh And Bones providing backing throughout.
After leaving that ensemble, she lent her voice to the Falcons, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires and the Mighty Vikings. Her debut single, "How Could I," appeared in 1969 on Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label but attracted little notice. Clancy Eccles, however, was sufficiently impressed to cut "Foolish Fool," which became a major Jamaican success and later surfaced in Britain, where it registered just below the pop chart. In 1970 she began working with Skin Flesh And Bones at the Tit-For-Tat club, all while sustaining her solo appearances. Disappointed by meager recording royalties, she stayed away from the studio until Duke Reid summoned her to record a version of "Clean Up Woman," the ballad "Sentimental Reasons" and the roots-oriented "Aily I," the last of which became a British reggae hit on the Attack label in 1972.
Additional sessions with producers Alvin "GG" Ranglin and Larry Lawrence yielded the modest successes "Place In My Heart" and "Change Partners." Frustrated by industry obstacles, Richards took independent control of her career. By 1972 she had written, produced and arranged "Mr. Postman," receiving assistance from Al Brown on the project. The following year she scored a hit with her rendition of the Staple Singers' "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)." Voted Top Female Artist of 1973, she joined Dennis Brown, Toots & The Maytals, Sharon Forrester and Al Brown on a Jamaica showcase tour, with Skin Flesh And Bones providing backing throughout.
Albums
