Artist Of The Week

NORMA FRASER

Norma Fraser was born in St. Andrews in Jamaica and attended Merle Grove High School. Although she loved music as a child, she never realized she had any talent, nor aspired to. The first song that Norma Fraser recorded was a tune called “We’ll Be Lovers,” a duet with Lord Creator, in 1961. The song was an instant hit and stayed on the Jamaican charts for over a year. She also recorded a tune with Lord Creator called “Come On Baby,” and both songs were recorded for Vincent Chin on the Randy’s label. But all of Norma Fraser’s subsequent songs were recorded at Studio One for Coxsone Dodd. It is extremely unusual during the early 1960s for an artist to record so exclusively for only one producer. Fraser was deeply influenced as a child by "Ska" music. According to Fraser, she and her playmates "revered the style, energy, and feelings we derived from listening to 'our' music.It all started for me at Studio One, the record label that was like the Motown label in America. It was owned by Coxson Dodd, the master mind behind us all. He signed me n the early 1960s, and i had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful performers and musicians who were also signed with him includng Bob & Rita Marley; Peter Tosh; Bunny Wailer; Slim Smith; Delroy Wilson; joe Higgs; Ken Boothe; and the Skatalites.



by the courtesy of NORMA FRASER