Louisa Lynthia Mark, also known as "Markswoman" (11 January 1960 – 17 October 2009), was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

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.

Biography

Mark was born in

Kensal Rise Kensal Green, also known as Kensal Rise, is an area in north-west London, and along with Kensal Town, it forms part of the northern section of North Kensington. It lies north of the canal in the London Borough of Brent, and also to the south, ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

to Grenadian immigrant parents, and grew up in

Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Bush is a suburb of West London, England, within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham west of Charing Cross, and identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan. Although primarily residential in character, its ...

. She had her introduction to the music business initially by working as guest vocalist on Dennis Bovell's Sufferer

sound system Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

, 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 Dalston () is an area of East London, in the London Borough of Hackney. It is northeast of Charing Cross. Dalston began as a hamlet on either side of Dalston Lane, and as the area urbanised the term also came to apply to surrounding areas i ...

, where she won for ten consecutive weeks.Larkin, Colin (1998), ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , p. 181. Sound-system operator and

record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

Lloyd Coxsone provided dubplates 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 Gooseberry Sound Studios, also known as just Gooseberry Studios, were recording studios at 19 Gerrard Street, London, Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London, Chinatown, London, located in a Basement, cellar underneath a Dentistry, dental practice. Th ...

, where she recorded a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

of Robert Parker's "Caught You in a Lie", on which she was backed by Matumbi, the single also being released in

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

by Gussie Clarke.Barrow, Steve, & Dalton, Peter (2004), ''The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.'', Rough Guides, , p. 394. "Caught You in a Lie" is considered the first lovers rock single.Bradley, Lloyd (2000), ''This is Reggae Music: The Story of Jamaica's Music'', Penguin, , p. 440. It gave her an instant hit with reggae audiences, and was followed by a version of

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

' "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 is a British record label founded by Jamaican Duke Reid, Lee Gopthal and Chris Blackwell in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. Th ...

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 Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

's "Even Though You're Gone", "Six Sixth Street", and her début album ''Breakout'' (1981). She was unhappy with the album, feeling that it had been released 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 18 October 2009 edition of his

BBC London BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London, Surrey and parts of the surrounding areas of the Home Counties. Its output includes the daily '' BBC London'' news bulletin and w ...

radio show,

Dotun Adebayo Oludotun Davey Moore "Dotun" Adebayo (born 25 August 1959) is a British radio presenter, writer, and publisher. He is best known for his work on ''Up All Night (radio show), Up All Night'' on BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as the former obituary pr ...

reported that Mark had died of poisoning in

Gambia The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. Geographically, The Gambia is the List of African countries by area, smallest country in continental Africa; it is surrounded by Senegal on all sides except for ...

, where she had been residing. On 20 October 2009,

confirmed the story, stating cause of death was a

stomach ulcer The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the upper gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The Ancient Greek name for the stomach is ''gaster'' which is used as ''gastric'' in medical terms re ...

."Black Community Louisa Marks Legendary Lovers Rock Singer has Died".

Discography

Albums

*''Breakout'' (1981), Bushays

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 (1984), 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, Bushays, BFM 113, 12" *"Foolish Fool", Sky Note, 12"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mark, Louisa 1960 births 2009 deaths People from Kensal Green Lovers rock musicians 20th-century Black British women singers 20th-century British women singers British reggae musicians