MARCIA J. BALL’s MUSICAL ODE TO SUGAR MINOTT !

Last year when producer Trevor Elliott approached singer Marcia J Ball about contributing to his Sugar Minott tribute album, her response was a resounding ‘yes’.

Ball does an acoustic version of Vanity, one of Minott’s biggest hit songs. It was an opportunity for the London-born artiste to salute a dancehall heavyweight who died in 2010.

“I always loved Sugar’s music so when Trevor called I said ‘yes’ quick. It wasn’t the song I wanted to do but I enjoyed it,” she said.

Ball knew Minott fairly well. She first met him during the 1980’s while living in New York and singing with Rumbling Express, a band that included her three brothers, a sister and uncle.

Tell Me, her first solo song, was produced by older brother George Meco Ball and released in 1990. She has maintained a hectic recording routine that has produced five albums.

Ball has also recorded for several South Florida producers including Ansell Owen (Moma Said) and Danny Breakenridge (Poor People, Sunny Smile).

Those songs draw on the diverse artistes who influenced Ball — from Dennis Brown to the I Three, Sarah Vaughn and Aretha Franklin.

“I feel comfortable doing soul and lovers rock, …I don’t feel out of place,” she said.

Hello World, her fifth album, was released in 2013.