Marcia, meaning "proud, warlike, martial," can refer to:

• Marcia (given name)
• For Roman women of this name, see gens Marcius
• Korean carname. Hyundai Motors's car
• Marcia : a genus of venus clams in the family Veneridae

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Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths (right) with the I Threes
Background information
Birth name	Marcia Llyneth Griffiths
Born	(1949-11-23) 23 November 1949 (age 62) Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Reggae roots reggae
Occupations	Vocalist
Years active	1964–present
Associated acts	The Wailers Peter Tosh Bob and Marcia

Marcia Llyneth Griffiths (born 23 November 1949, Kingston, Jamaica)^[1] is a successful female singer, also called the "Queen of Reggae". One reviewer described her noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances".^[1]

Griffiths started her career in 1964. From 1970 to 1974 she worked together with Bob Andy in the group Bob and Marcia, on the Harry J label. Between 1974 and 1981 she was a member of the I Threes, a background group, which supported Bob Marley & the Wailers.^[1]

Her song "Electric Boogie", released in 1976 and re-released in 1989, made the Electric Slide, a line dance, an international dance craze. It reached number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 making it her most successful single.^[1] It remains the highest-selling single by a female Reggae singer of all time.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[link]

• Sweet Bitter Love (1974)
• Naturally (1978)
• Rock My Soul (1984)
• Marcia (1988)
• Carousel (1990)
• Indomitable (1995)
• Land Of Love (1997)
• Collectors Series (1998)
• Truly (1998)
• Certified (1999)
• Reggae Max (2003)
• Shining Time (2005)
• Melody Life (2007)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official homepage of Marcia Griffiths

Marcia Cross
Cross in April 2008
Born	Marcia Anne Cross (1962-03-25) March 25, 1962 (age 50) Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States
Education	Juilliard (1984)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1984–present
Television	Edge of Night, TheThe Edge of Night, One Life to Live, Another World, Melrose Place, Everwood, Desperate Housewives
Spouse	Tom Mahoney (2006–present)
Partner	Richard Jordan (1985–1993; his death)
Children	Eden Mahoney Savannah Mahoney

Marcia Anne Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American television actress, best known for her roles as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the Fox soap opera Melrose Place.

Early life and education[link]

Cross is of English descent^{[citation needed]} and was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the daughter of Janet, a teacher, and Mark Cross, a personnel manager.^[1][2] Her parents raised her in the Roman Catholic religion.^[3] She grew up with sisters Susan (age 51–52), a teacher, and Ellen (age 45–46), a singer and songwriter.^[1]

Raised in Marlborough, she graduated from Marlborough High School in 1980.^[4] Having received a half scholarship to Juilliard at the age of 17,^[5] she moved to New York City at the age of 18 to study at the school^[4] where she graduated in 1984.^[6] Cross returned to school in 1997 to earn a master's degree in psychology, which she received from Antioch University Los Angeles in 2003.^[1]

Career[link]

She began her television career in 1984 on the soap opera The Edge of Night. She then moved from New York to Los Angeles, and soon landed roles in television movies such as The Last Days of Frank and Jessie James, co-starring with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. In 1986 she joined the cast of the ABC daytime Soap opera One Life to Live, where she played Kate Sanders, until 1987.

In 1991, Cross guest-starred on the 13th season on the soap opera Knots Landing as the wife of Pierce Lawton (Bruce Greenwood). She spent a lot of her screen-time on the show confronting Paige Matheson, played by her future Desperate Housewives co-star Nicollette Sheridan.

In 1992, Cross gained widespread recognition, cast as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the FOX's primetime soap opera Melrose Place. Initially cast for one episode, she so impressed the producers that they kept bringing her back. By the second season, her character was emerging as the mentally unbalanced antagonist of the show. She left in the season five.

Cross guest-starred on series such as Seinfeld, where she played Jerry's dermatologist girlfriend Dr. Sitarides (whom he mocked as "Pimple Popper M.D."), and Cheers, where she portrayed Susan Howe, the younger sister to Kirstie Alley's character, Rebecca Howe. She also appeared on the episides of sitcoms, such as Boy Meets World, Ally McBeal, Spin City, It's Garry Shandling's Show and King of Queens. Her dramatic roles include appearances on CSI, Profiler and Touched by an Angel. Her film credits include independent movies Bad Influence (1990), Always Say Goodbye (1996) and Just Peck (2009).

In 2003, prior to her role on Desperate Housewives, Cross spent a season co-starring as Linda Abbott on WB's critically acclaimed series, Everwood.

In 2004, Cross landed the role of Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives. For this role she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series in 2005, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2005—2007).

From late 2009 onwards, Cross fronted various television commercials in the United Kingdom for the country's Albert Barlett Rooster Potatoes company. Cross appeared in the indie movie Bringing Up Bobby in 2011.^[7]

Personal life[link]

Cross was the long-time companion of actor Richard Jordan, who was 25 years older than her. Jordan died from a brain tumor in 1993.^[8]

Cross and Tom Mahoney (b. 1958), a stock broker whom she had been dating for six months, were married on June 24, 2006, in front of 200 guests at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Parish in San Gabriel, California.^[9] Cross underwent in vitro fertilization soon after her wedding.^[10] On January 11, 2007, she was placed on precautionary bedrest, requiring her to suspend her Desperate Housewives acting duties. Cross did not want to give up working, even bringing the entire cast and crew to her home to shoot some scenes in her bedroom, which was painted to look like Bree's. On February 20, 2007, Cross gave birth to fraternal twin daughters, Eden and Savannah, at a Los Angeles hospital, shortly before Cross's 45th birthday.^[11] Both children were baptized at Trinity Episcopal Church.^[12]

In November 2005, Cross appeared on the cover of the newly launched Psychologies magazine in the United Kingdom where she discussed her passion for psychology and therapy. In September 2008, Cross stated in an interview that she was "in heaven right now" looking after her newborn twins, but also stated that she has a desire to adopt a child in the near future.^[13] In December 2008, Cross became the face of Mott's apple sauce;^[14] commercials began airing in March 2009. On January 20, 2009, it was announced that Cross's husband had been diagnosed with cancer.^[15]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Marcia Cross

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Marcia Cross

• Marcia Cross at the Internet Movie Database

Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball in concert (2005)
Background information
Born	(1949-03-20) March 20, 1949 (age 63) Orange, Texas, United States
Genres	New Orleans R&B Swamp blues Louisiana blues Texas blues
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Piano Vocals
Years active	1970–present
Associated acts	Lou Ann Barton Angela Strehli Irma Thomas Tracy Nelson
Website	Marcia Ball.com

Marcia Ball (born March 20, 1949, Orange, Texas, United States)^[1] is an American blues singer and pianist, born in Orange, Texas but who grew up in Vinton, Louisiana.^[1] She was described in USA Today as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist... where Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana blues-swamp meet."^[2] The Boston Globe described her music as "an irresistible celebratory blend of rollicking, two-fisted New Orleans piano, Louisiana swamp-rock and smoldering Texas blues from a contemporary storyteller."^[3]

Career[link]

Born into a musical family, Ball began playing piano at age 5, and showed an early interest in New Orleans style piano playing, as exemplified by Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, and James Booker. She has named Irma Thomas, the New Orleans vocalist, as her chief vocal inspiration. Ball entered Louisiana State University in the late 1960s as an English major.^[1] In college, she played in a psychedelic rock and roll band, called Gum.^[1] In 1970, at age 21, she started a progressive country band called Freda and the Firedogs in Austin, Texas, and began her solo career in 1974.^[4]

Ball is known for her piano style, which shows elements of zydeco, swamp blues, Louisiana blues and boogie woogie.^[5] She began her recording career as a solo artist with Rounder Records in the 1980s and early 1990s.^[4] In 2001, she joined Chicago-based Alligator Records.

Her Rounder album, Sing It!, which also featured vocalists Irma Thomas and Tracy Nelson, released in January 1998 was nominated for both a Grammy Award and a Blues Music Award as "Best Contemporary Blues Album." Ball also received the 1998 Blues Music Award for "Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year" and "Best Blues Instrumentalist-Keyboards."^[6] She was awarded “Contemporary Blues Album of the Year” for her albums Presumed Innocent (2002) and So Many Rivers (2004). The same year she also won “Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year-Female.” She won the "Best Blues Instrumentalist-Keyboards" again in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. Her 2003 Alligator release, So Many Rivers, was nominated for a Grammy as were Live! Down The Road (2005) and Peace, Love & BBQ (2008). She was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 1990.

Ball has continued to work with Irma Thomas. In 2006, the two contributed a duet ("Look Up") on the New Orleans Social Club release, Sing Me Back Home (Burgundy Records/Honey Darling Records). In 2007, the two contributed another duet ("I Can't Get New Orleans Off My Mind") to Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (Vanguard Records).

Ball, who has established herself as an important player in the club scenes in both New Orleans, Louisiana and Austin continues to work at festivals and clubs throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.^[1] The current^[when?] band members are Ball (piano, vocals); Don Bennett (bass, vocals); Mike Schermer (guitar, vocals); Damien Llanes (drums, vocals); Thad Scott (saxophone).^[7]

Discography[link]

Solo or principal artist[link]

• 2011: Roadside Attractions (Alligator Records) - Grammy nominated album
• 2008: Peace, Love & BBQ (Alligator)
• 2007: JazzFest Live (MunckMusic\Munck)
• 2005: Live! Down The Road (Alligator Records)
• 2004: Live at Waterloo Records (Alligator Records)
• 2003: So Many Rivers (Alligator)
• 2001: Presumed Innocent (Alligator Records)
• 1998: Sing It! (Rounder) (with Tracy Nelson and Irma Thomas)
• 1997: Let Me Play With Your Poodle (Rounder)
• 1994: Blue House (Rounder)
• 1990: Dreams Come True (Antone's) (with Lou Ann Barton and Angela Strehli)
• 1989: Gatorhythms (Rounder)
• 1985: Hot Tamale Baby (Rounder)
• 1984: Soulful Dress (Rounder)
• 1978: Circuit Queen (Capitol)
• 1972: Freda and the Firedogs

Other contributions[link]

• 2007: Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (Vanguard Records) Duet with Irma Thomas, "I Can't Get New Orleans Off My Mind".
• 2006: Sing Me Back Home New Orleans Social Club (Burgundy Records/Honey Darling Records) Duet with Irma Thomas, "Look Up".

Filmography[link]

• 2006: New Orleans Music in Exile
• 2003: The Blues, episode Piano Blues directed by Clint Eastwood

Festival appearances[link]

• Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (Helena, AR) - 2010
• New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival - 2007, 2008, 2009
• Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland, OR) - 2007
• National Folk Festival (USA) - 2005
• Austin City Limits Music Festival - 2004
• Monterey Jazz Festival - 2002
• Thursday at the Square - 2002
• Long Beach Blues Festival - 1996
• San Francisco Blues Festival - 1984

See also[link]

• List of blues musicians
• List of boogie woogie musicians
• List of Louisiana blues musicians
• List of Swamp blues musicians
• List of people from Texas
• List of Austinites
• Music of Austin
• Lake Eden Arts Festival

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Marcia Ball

• Official Marcia Ball website
• Marcia Ball at the Internet Movie Database
• Marcia Ball on Myspace
• Marcia Ball at Facebook
• Fan site
• Le Show interview: Shearer, Harry (May 8, 2005). "le Show". HarryShearer.com. http://media.harryshearer.com/?ProgramID=473. Retrieved January 5, 2009. 

Carlton Errington Grant (born 30 May 1969) is a Jamaican Dancehall Deejay.

Career[link]

He began his career around 1991. Once known to his friends as "Spaghetti" (tall and slim), but this was later shortened to Spragga. The Benz in his name comes from the sound system for which he used to work for, L.A. Benz, and it is through this that he found his way into the music industry at a Dubplate recording session with Buju Banton. The famed elder DJ was slated to do four tracks for L.A. Benz but only voiced two and suggested that Spragga do the other two. Since he was new to recording, he freestyled a couple of lines of what would then become, "Love Mi Gun", a popular tune.

He soon became an in-demend performer for numerous producers, including Bobby Digital, and hits followed with "Could a Deal" (produced by Winston Riley) and "Girls Hooray" (Steely & Clevie). A series of well-received singles followed, many included on his debut album, Jack It Up (1994). This success led to a deal with Capitol Records, who issued his second album, Uncommonly Smooth, in 1995, featuring duets with Chevelle Franklyn ("A-1 Lover") and "Spanish Harlem" (with Ben E. King). The album didn't sell well enough for Capitol, who dropped him, after which he spent a few years releasing further singles in Jamaica, also collaborating with the likes of Wyclef Jean and KRS-One. In 1999, he recorded a 'clash' album with Beenie Man, Two Badd DJs, and had a number one Jamaican hit single with "She Nuh Ready Yet (Hype Up)", which was also included on his third album, Fully Loaded (2000). This album featured duets with Lady Saw (on "Backshot") and Foxy Brown (on "Too Stoosh"), and was co-produced by house music legend Todd Terry. In the same year, Benz made his film acting debut in Brooklyn Babylon, and the following year played a leading role in the gangster film Shottas. 2002 saw the release of his fourth album, Thug Nature.

In 2003, Benz recorded a number of duets, with the likes of Carly Simon and Shannon, with the aim of breaking into the US market.^[1] In July 2007, Benz co-hosted the Urban Music Awards in New York with Foxy Brown.^[2] Benz was nominated for three awards at the first Caribbean Urban Music Awards, held in Jamaica in April 2008.^[3] On 31 August 2010 Spragga Benz released his sixth solo album Shotta Culture^[4]

Personal life[link]

In the late 1990s, Benz founded the Stay In School program which provided help for needy students in his hometown of Franklin Town.^[5]

Carlton "Carlisle" Grant Jr., his 17-year-old son who had played a younger version of Benz's character in the film Shottas, was shot and killed by local police in Kingston, Jamaica on 23 August 2008.^[6] Police say they stopped two men on a bicycle in the Kingston 8 area, and when they approached them, one of the men began firing at them.^[6] The police said they returned fire and the men fled. When they searched the area they found Grant Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds and in possession of a .45 semi automatic pistol.^[6] Grant Jr. was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.^[6]

Following his son's death, Benz founded the Carlisle Foundation, with the aim of helping local youths.^[5]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Jack It Up (1994) VP
• Uncommonly Smooth (1995) Capitol
• Two Bad DJs with Beenie Man (1999)
• Fully Loaded (2000) VP
• Thug Nature (2002) Empire Musicwerks
• Live Good (2007)
• Shotta Culture (2010)

Singles[link]

• "Oh Yeah" feat. Foxy Brown;# 63 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
• "A1 Lover"
• "Jack It Up"
• "Run Things"
• "Wi Nuh Like"
• "Chicken Head Remix" feat. Wyclef Jean
• "Turn Me On" feat. Kevin Lyttle; # 4 US, # 20 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
• "She Nuh Ready Yet" / "Backshot" feat. Lady Saw
• "Mad House Tek Him"
• "No Way Remix" and more.
• "Shotta Culcha"
• "This Is The Way" feat. Nas
• "Eat Buddy" feat.Poizn Ivy

Notable appearances[link]

• "Fire" Kelis feat. Spragga Benz
• "The Best Man" Kardinal Offishall feat. Spragga Benz and Darryl Riley
• "Gangsta Gal" Tanya Stephens feat. Spragga Benz
• "Iron Bars" Stephen Marley feat. Julian Marley and Spragga Benz
• "Working Ways" Stephen Marley feat. Spragga Benz [2011]
• "Lullabye" Toni Norville feat. Spragga Benz
• "Bounce With Me Remix" Lil Bow Wow feat. Spragga Benz
• "We Can" Alison Hinds feat. Spragga Benz (WI Cricket Theme Song 2002)
• "Spanish Harlem" (feat.Ben E King) (uncommonly smooth 1995 capitol)
• "Another One Partner" Machel Montano feat. Spragga Benz, Red Rat and Buccaneer (album: Same High)
• "Jealousy" video with Charles & Eddie, 1995
• "Don't Walk Away" Skul1 feat. Spragga Benz

Filmography[link]

• Shottas (Source Award Winner 2004) (Wayne)
• Brooklyn Babylon (1999) (Himself)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Spragga Benz at the Internet Movie Database
• News on Spragga Benz
• Spragga claims that … COPS SHOT UP HIS SON’S MEMORIAL