Photo: Lasse Lysberg · Copyrighted free use · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Judy Mowatt
Person · female · Jamaica · Gordon Town · born 1952 · recording since 1970
Jamaican singer and songwriter
streamingstreamingticketsdatabasedatabasedatabase
Listen on SpotifyYouTube Music
Also known as ジュディ・モワット
Timeline
15 events▣ Album 12◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1✦ Award 1
1950s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: It Must Be Him / I’ve Fallen in Love With a Married Man
First documented Single in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
Biography
English biography460 words · 6 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1366048518
Biography
Judith Veronica Mowatt, (born 1952) is a Jamaican reggae artist. As well as being a solo artist, from 1974 she was also a member of the I Threes, the trio of backing vocalists for Bob Marley & The Wailers.
Early life
Mowatt was born in Gordon Town, St. Andrew Parish, Jamaica. At the age of 13, she became a member of a dance troupe that toured Jamaica and other islands in the Caribbean. Her initial ambition was to become a registered nurse. Her earliest musical influences were Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, Dionne Warwick, Bob Marley, Marcia Griffiths, The Staple Singers and The Soulettes. A coincidental meeting with two teenage girls who were earlier in her dance troupe led to the formation of the Gaylettes, in 1967.
Career
In 1974, Mowatt got her big break by joining Bob Marley's backing vocal trio the "I Threes".
Her Black Woman album (Ashandan, 1979) came out the same year as I Three member Marcia Griffiths's album At Studio One. It is considered by many critics to be the greatest reggae album by a female artist. It was also the first reggae album recorded by a woman acting as her own producer, in collaboration with the renowned Jamaican artist Freddie McGregor, with whom she also had a romantic relationship, resulting in the birth of their daughter Yashemabeth McGregor.
The song "Joseph", from this album, was dedicated to Bob Marley while he was still alive, as she believed that the Jamaican musician was the reincarnation of the biblical figure Joseph from the Old Testament.
She became the first female singer nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of reggae music when her Working Wonders album was nominated in 1985.
Formerly a member of the Rastafari movement, in the late 1990s she converted to Christianity and now sings Gospel music.
In 1999 the Jamaican government made her an Officer of the Order of Distinction for "services to music".
Identity mixup
Some sources wrongfully assumed Judy Mowatt to be identical to Jean Watt (the longtime wife of Bunny Livingston/Wailer). This mixup possibly originated from Mowatt using several different stage names, for legal reasons, in the early 1970s: Julianne, Julie-Ann, and Jean. Bunny Wailer credited his wife, Jean Watt, for writing some of the tracks recorded during sessions for the album Burnin' (1973): "Hallelujah Time", "Pass It On" and "Reincarnated Soul". The latter song first appeared on a single as B-side to "Concrete Jungle" and later - with the name changed to "Reincarnated Souls" – on Bunny Wailer's first solo album Blackheart Man (1976).
with the I Three
Beginning (1986), Tuff Gong / EMI - with Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths, credited to 'I-Three'
with the Gaylettes
We Shall Sing (Girl Group Rocksteady, Reggae And Soul 1967-73) (2001), Westside (compilation)
Rescue Me (1967-1973) (2016), Roots Reggae Library (compilation)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 20 | 87.1th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 46 | 86.9th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (20 release groups · 12 studio albums)
Albums · 12
1975 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 34:11
A1Mellow Mood3:14A2Love Seed3:56A3I’m Alone4:08A4What an Experience3:17A5Mr. Big Man3:28B1Pour Sugar on Me3:12B2You Were Too Good for Me3:22B3First Cut2:50B4Just a Stranger Here2:44B5Rasta Woman Chant4:001979 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 42:26
1Strength to Go Through3:532Concrete Jungle5:233Slave Queen3:564Put It On4:225Zion Chant3:196Black Woman3:567Down in the Valley3:158Joseph5:099Many Are Called4:1010Sisters’ Chant5:031981 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 38:40
A1Mr. Dee Jay2:55A2Glad Song3:15A3I Am Not Mechanical2:59A4Big Woman3:50A5Trade Winds5:51B1On Your Mark3:59B2Think3:25B3Get Happy3:35B4Only a Woman3:32B5King of Kings5:191982 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 40:06
1You’re My People4:052Only a Woman3:283Trade Winds5:504Think3:245Got to Leave the West3:496I Am Not Mechanical2:507On Your Mark3:558Big Woman3:489You Don’t Care3:4010King of Kings5:171985 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 43:55
1Black Man, Brown Man5:402Working Wonders4:483Lovemaking4:234Let's Dance4:225So Many Eyes4:116Mother Africa4:097Ethiopia Salaam4:108Hush Baby Mother4:009Traveling Woman3:4610King's Highway4:261986 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 41:26
A1Sing Our Own Song3:51A2Love Is Overdue4:29A3Try A Little Tenderness4:33A4Long Long Time4:22A5Rock Me4:10B1Get Up Chant4:49B2Screwface3:18B3Hold Dem Jah3:42B4One More Minute3:37B5Who Is He4:351991 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks
1Fly African Eagle2Watchdogs3Groovin'4Guilty5Candle In The Window6Jah Live7Tomorrow Nation8Skin Of My Skin9Look At Love10Lioness In The Jungle11Day By Day12Warrior Queen13Never Get Weary1993 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 54:11
1Simmer Down4:152Rock Me4:093Guava Jelly4:074Zion Chant4:035Bubbling4:166Lean on Me4:047Life4:148Mad Mad World3:569I Shall Be Released4:0310House on Fire4:1111Victory Is Near4:4012God Bless the Children4:1813Life (Hard Bass mix)3:551993 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks
A1Simmer DownA2Rock MeA3Guava JellyA4Zion ChantA5BubblingA6Lean On MeB1LifeB2Mad, Mad WorldB3I Shall Be ReleasedB4House On FireB5God Bless The ChildrenB6Victory Is Here1998 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks
1The Gardener2Turn!Turn!Turn!3Ooh Child (Reggae Mix)4Standing In The Gap5(Want To Be More Than) Ordinary Servant6Oh Happy Day7Lamb Of God8I Want To Thank You9Thank You Lord10Show Love11Ooh Child (NY Mix)12I Want To Thank You2002 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 14 tracks
1Who Is He2Victory Is Near3Many Are Called4I Sing Praises5Heal Our Land6Blood Washed Pilgrim7Fear Not8Revival9I Don’t Wanna Stay Here10Strength to Go Through11Mother’s Call12Blood Medley13I Praise You Mighty God14Hold Them Jesus2003 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 52:28
1Sing Our Own Song3:502Many Are Called4:113Jah Live4:054Sisters Chant5:005Black Man, Brown Man5:376Fly African Eagle3:387Get Up Chant4:498Hold Dem Jah3:419King of Kings5:1910Screwface3:2011Let's Dance4:1912Who Is He4:39
Single · 5
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | It Must Be Him / I’ve Fallen in Love With a Married ManSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 5:43AIt Must Be Him3:03 BI’ve Fallen in Love With a Married Man2:40 | 20 February 1970 | ||
| 1973 | Way Over YonderSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksAWay Over Yonder BWay Over Yonder - Version | 1973 | ||
| 1975 | Too Good for MeSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksAToo Good for Me BGood Version | 1975 | ||
| 1982 | Love on a Two‐Way StreetSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksALove on a Two Way Street BLove on a Two Way Street | 1982 | ||
| 1989 | BubblingSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 8:32ABubbling4:16 BBubbling (Version)4:16 | 1989 |
Album · 3
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | We Shall SingSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 18 tracks · 52:431Silent River Runs Deep2:44 2Something About My Man3:14 3I Like Your World3:02 4Here Comes That Feeling (a.k.a. That Lonely Feeling)2:35 5If You Can’t Be Good, Be Careful2:47 6Something About My Man2:26 7Take a Chance (On Me)2:55 8That’s How Strong My Love Is2:38 9Son of a Preacher Man2:36 10Groovin’3:12 11Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday2:41 12It Must Be Him (Seul sur son etoile)3:11 13Way Over Yonder3:07 14I Love You (Je vous aime)2:56 15Rescue Me3:08 16I Shall Sing3:35 17Emergency Call3:06 18Mellow Mood2:50 | Compilation | 2001 | |
| 2016 | Rescue MeSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 42:391Way Over Yonder3:02 2It Must Be Him3:07 3Something About My Man3:10 4I Love You2:51 5Rescue Me3:05 6Emergency Call3:02 7Mellow Mood2:45 8Zip‐A‐Dee‐Doo‐Dah3:12 9Heartaches I Can’t Take2:45 10She Didn’t Know3:03 11Surround Yourself With Sorrow3:14 12How Come You Come3:08 13In Paradise2:59 14Joy to the World3:16 | Compilation | 2016 | |
| — | VintageSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracksA1Warrior Queen A2Put It On A3Many Are Called A4Lioness A5Working Wonders A6Screwface A7Skin of My Skin B1Black Woman B2Mad, Mad World B3Hold Dem Jah B4Slave Queen B5Guava Jelly B6House on Fire | Compilation | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Judy Mowatt head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 11 | 61.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 20 | 87.1th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 46 | 86.9th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Officer of the Order of Distinction | won | |
| 1999 | Officer of the Order of Distinction | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Threes(band) | — | present | |
| The Gaylettes(band) | — | present | |
| I Word & The Sound of Creation(band) | — | present | background vocals |
| Bob Marley & The Wailers(band) | 1974 | 11 May 1981 | background vocals |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Copyrighted free use · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Judy_Mowatt_Grona_Lund_1977.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/67919668-0060-4097-9687-8af0ed1df3dadiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/67919668-0060-4097-9687-8af0ed1df3dacore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q462257genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q462257seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Mowattbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Mowatt
Why this artist is in the database
- List of reggae musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Lasse Lysberg · Copyrighted free use · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q462257 · MusicBrainz: 67919668-0060-4097-9687-8af0ed1df3da
Similar artists
Browse every Tier 3 artist →Ranked from this record's own data: shared genre tags (rarer tags weigh more), era, home country and comparable fame. Every card lists the signals that placed it — no editorial picks.
Clancy Eccles
Jamaica · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1967, 3 years apart · from Jamaica
9 wikis
Dennis Alcapone
Jamaica · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1971, 1 year apart · from Jamaica
9 wikis
Dobby Dobson
Jamaica · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1969, 1 year apart · from Jamaica
9 wikis
Cedric Brooks
Jamaica · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1973, 3 years apart · from Jamaica
8 wikis
Big Youth
Jamaica · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1972, 2 years apart · from Jamaica
15 wikis
Dennis Brown
Jamaica · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1970, same year · from Jamaica
21 wikis
Horace Andy
Jamaica · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1972, 2 years apart · from Jamaica
24 wikis
Michael Johnson
United States · Person
reggae
1 shared genre tag · debut 1973, 3 years apart
13 wikis