Louisa Mark
Encyclopedia
Louisa Lynthia Mark, also known as 'Markswoman' (11 January 1960 – 17 October 2009) was a British
lovers rock
singer best known for her work between the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Her 1975 single "Caught You in a Lie" is regarded as the first lovers rock single.
, London
in 1960 to Grenadian
immigrant parents, grew up in Shepherds Bush and had her introduction to the music business initially by working as guest vocalist on Dennis Bovell
's Sufferer sound system, followed by a residency at the Metro club in Westbourne Park
, and via "Star Search" talent contests held at the Four Aces club in Dalston
, where she won for ten consecutive weeks. Sound-system operator and record producer
Lloyd Coxsone
provided dub plates for the contestants to sing over at the contests and in late 1974 provided the fifteen-year old Mark with her first recording session, at Gooseberry Studios, where she recorded a cover version
of Robert Parker's "Caught You in a Lie", on which she was backed by Matumbi
, the single also being released in Jamaica
by Gussie Clarke
. "Caught You in a Lie" is considered the first lovers rock single. It gave her an instant hit with reggae audiences, and was followed by a version of The Beatles
' "All My Loving". Her career was interrupted after a dispute with Coxsone and she concentrated on finishing her studies.
After leaving school, Mark resumed her musical career working with Trojan Records
house producer and A&R manager Clement Bushay
and songwriter/arranger Joseph "Tunga" Charles (of Zabandis), releasing "Keep it Like It Is". She stayed with Bushay for further releases on his own Bushays label including her rendition of Michael Jackson
's "Even Though You're Gone", "Six Sixth Street", and her debut album Breakout (1981). She was unhappy with the album, feeling that it had been reelased before it had been properly finished, and did not record again for over a year. Mark returned to the studio in 1982, recording "Mum and Dad" (arranged by Sly & Robbie).
Mark was voted Artist of The Year in the 1978 Reggae Awards (UK).
radio show Dotun Adebayo
reported that Mark had died of poisoning in Gambia, where she has been residing. Adebayo himself owns property in Gambia and is married to Mark's friend, and fellow singer, Carroll Thompson
. This led to further widespread unconfirmed reports.
On Oct 20 2009 Trojan Records
confirmed the story, stating cause of death was a stomach ulcer
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
lovers rock
Lovers rock
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid 1970s.-History:...
singer best known for her work between the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Her 1975 single "Caught You in a Lie" is regarded as the first lovers rock single.
Biography
Mark was born in Kensal RiseKensal Green
Kensal Green, also referred to as Kensal Rise is an area of London, England. It is located on the southern edge of the London Borough of Brent and borders the City of Westminster to the East and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the South....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1960 to Grenadian
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
immigrant parents, grew up in Shepherds Bush and had her introduction to the music business initially by working as guest vocalist on Dennis Bovell
Dennis Bovell
Dennis Bovell is a reggae guitarist, bass player and record producer. He was a member of the British reggae band Matumbi, and released dub-reggae records under his own name as well as the pseudonym 'Blackbeard'....
's Sufferer sound system, followed by a residency at the Metro club in Westbourne Park
Westbourne Park
Westbourne Park may refer to:* Westbourne Park tube station* Westbourne Park, South Australia...
, and via "Star Search" talent contests held at the Four Aces club in Dalston
Dalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, where she won for ten consecutive weeks. Sound-system operator and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Lloyd Coxsone
Lloyd Coxsone
Lloyd Coxsone is a Jamaican-born sound system operator and record producer, who has been resident in the United Kingdom since 1962.-Biography:...
provided dub plates for the contestants to sing over at the contests and in late 1974 provided the fifteen-year old Mark with her first recording session, at Gooseberry Studios, where she recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Robert Parker's "Caught You in a Lie", on which she was backed by Matumbi
Matumbi (band)
Matumbi were one of top British reggae bands of the 1970s and early 1980s, and are best known as the first successful band of guitarist and record producer Dennis Bovell.-History:...
, the single also being released in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
by Gussie Clarke
Gussie Clarke
Augustus "Gussie" Clarke , is a reggae producer who worked with some of the top Jamaican reggae artists in the 1970s and later set up his own Music Works studio.-Career:...
. "Caught You in a Lie" is considered the first lovers rock single. It gave her an instant hit with reggae audiences, and was followed by a version of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "All My Loving". Her career was interrupted after a dispute with Coxsone and she concentrated on finishing her studies.
After leaving school, Mark resumed her musical career working with Trojan Records
Trojan Records
Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
house producer and A&R manager Clement Bushay
Clement Bushay
Clement "Clem" Bushay is a United Kingdom-based reggae producer who also ran the Bushays record label.-Biography:Bushay's productions in the early 1970s were issued by Trojan Records, and he produced early releases by Owen Gray and Louisa Mark , and was one of the early producers of UK Lovers rock...
and songwriter/arranger Joseph "Tunga" Charles (of Zabandis), releasing "Keep it Like It Is". She stayed with Bushay for further releases on his own Bushays label including her rendition of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "Even Though You're Gone", "Six Sixth Street", and her debut album Breakout (1981). She was unhappy with the album, feeling that it had been reelased before it had been properly finished, and did not record again for over a year. Mark returned to the studio in 1982, recording "Mum and Dad" (arranged by Sly & Robbie).
Mark was voted Artist of The Year in the 1978 Reggae Awards (UK).
Death
On the October 18, 2009 edition of his BBC LondonBBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
radio show Dotun Adebayo
Dotun Adebayo
Oludotun Adebayo MBE is a Nigerian-born, British-based radio presenter, writer and publisher. He is best known for his work on Up All Night on BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as the obituary programme Brief Lives.- Early life :...
reported that Mark had died of poisoning in Gambia, where she has been residing. Adebayo himself owns property in Gambia and is married to Mark's friend, and fellow singer, Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
. This led to further widespread unconfirmed reports.
On Oct 20 2009 Trojan Records
Trojan Records
Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
confirmed the story, stating cause of death was a stomach ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
.
Singles
- "Caught You in a Lie" (1975), Safari - 7"
- "All My Loving" (1975), Safari - 7"
- "Even Though You're Gone" (1978), Bushays - 12"
- "Six Sixth Street" (1978), Bushays
- "Caught You in a Lie" (1979), Voyage International - 12", B-side by Clinton Grant
- "People in Love" (1980), Radic - 12"
- "All My Loving (19??), Voyage International - 7"
- "Caught You in a Lie" (1984), Code - 12"
- "Hello There" (1984), Oak Sound - 12", Louisa Mark & Zabandis
- "Mum and Dad" (1982), Bushays, 12"
- "Keep It Like It Is" (1986), Trojan - 7"/12"
- "Reunited" b/w "Reunited Stepping Out" with Kevin & The Bushrangers, (80's), Bushays, BFM 113, 12"
- "Foolish Fool", (1980's), Sky Note, 12"