Lady Saw: The Queen of Reggae

Lady Saw is the undisputed Queen of Reggae. She’s been making music for over two decades and is still going strong. If you’re a fan of reggae, you need to check her out.

Early Life

Saw’s humble beginnings

Lady Saw was born Marion Hall on July 12, 1966, in Galina, Jamaica. She was one of six children born to a middle-class family. Saw’s mother worked as a teacher, while her father was a carpenter. From an early age, Saw displayed a giftedness for music. She began singing in her church choir when she was just seven years old. When she was 11, she started writing her own songs. Just a few years later, Saw began DJing professionally at local dances and clubs. At the age of 15, she had her first big break when she was featured on Jamaican singer dependence Super Cat’s album Once Upon a Time.

Saw’s introduction to music

Lady Saw was born Marion Hall on July 12, 1966, in Galina, Saint Mary, Jamaica. The youngest of seven children, she began singing in her local Pentecostal church at age four. As a teenager she took the name Lady Saw after the famous Jamaican disc jockey Tenor Saw, with whom she would later collaborate.

The Queen of Reggae

Saw’s musical career

Lady Saw, also known as Marion Hall, is a Jamaican reggae singer. She is the first woman to be a self-proclaimed “dancehall queen”, and is also considered one of the first female deejays to gain mainstream attention.

Saw’s musical career began in the early 1990s when she was featured on several sexually explicit songs recorded byproducer Henry “Junjo” Lawes. She achieved mainstream success in 1995 with her single “Give Me a Reason”, which was included on her debut album Smile Jamaica. The album’s success saw her being nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

In 1998, Saw released her second album, 99 Ways, which topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and produced the hit singles “Man A Di Least” and “No Long Talking”. She followed this with the release of the album If You Should Know (2000), which won her a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

Saw has released nine studio albums and has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. She has also had success with her singles “I’m So Happy” (1996), “Healing” (1999), and “I’ve Got Your Man” (2002).

Saw’s impact on the reggae scene

Lady Saw, born Marion Hall, is a Jamaican singer-songwriter whose career has spanned over two decades. Saw is known as the “Queen of Reggae” and is credited with helping to bring the genre of dancehall to the mainstream.

Saw’s impact on the reggae scene cannot be understated. She has been a pioneer for female artists in the genre, and her work has inspired numerous other artists, both male and female. Saw’s unique style combines elements of Jamaican patois with English, and her lyrics often deal with controversial topics such as infidelity, sexuality, and violence.

While some have criticized Saw for her explicit lyrics, there is no denying her talent and impact on the music industry. She is truly a pioneer in the world of reggae and dancehall, and her contributions to the genre will be remembered for years to come.

Later Years

After a successful career in the 1990s, Lady Saw’s popularity waned in the early 2000s. However, she made a comeback in 2005 with the release of her album Strip Tease. She has continued to release albums and tour throughout the world.

Saw’s retirement

In December 2011, Saw retired from performing. In an interview with the Jamaica Star, she stated: “This is not a goodbye, but a goodnight. I have not quit music; I am only taking a rest. I am grateful to my fans worldwide for their support and love they have shown me throughout my career, and pray that they continue to do so.”

Saw’s legacy

Lady Saw, born Marion Hall in Galveston, Texas, on July 12, 1966, was a groundbreaking figure in the development of dancehall reggae. One of the first female deejays to achieve widespread popularity, she was known for her risqué style and sexually explicit lyrics. She released her debut album, If Him Lov Me, in 1992 and followed it with a string of successful albums throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Lady Saw was also a skilled songwriter; she penned hits for several other artists, including “Under Mi Sleng Teng” for Wayne Smith and “No Letting Go” for Johnny Osbourne. She retired from performing in 2010 but continued to record and release new music until her death from cancer on October 4, 2018.