Ophelia Marie
Ophelia Marie | |
---|---|
Born | Willemstad, Curaçao | March 28, 1951
Origin | Dominica |
Genres | Lypo Cadence-lypso Zouk World music |
Years active | Late 1970s – present |
Members | Ophelia Marie |
Ophelia Marie, also known as Ophelia Olivaccé-Marie[1] (born 28 March 1951), is a popular singer of cadence-lypso from Dominica in the 1980s. She is sometimes referred to as "Dominica's Lady of Song", the "First Lady of Creole", and "la grande dame de la musique Antillaise".
Ophelia emerged and became Dominica's first Lypo female singer to achieve international star status. She is considered to be the "Godmother of Cadence", and has toured widely in France and had concerts broadcast over much of the Francophone world.[2]
Her signature tune is "Aie Dominique", which was also her first recording, and became an iconic anthem for Dominicans. Ophelia's musical idol is the South African singer Miriam Makeba[3]
Biography
Born in Willemstad, Curaçao to Dominican parents,[4][5][6] Ophelia grew to appreciate music from a very young age as a result of her father's musical prowess. At the age of 9 she moved to the village of Pointe Michel, Dominica, where she attended the St. Luke's Primary School. As a young girl, she was part of a group called the "Five O's", which performed at church functions. [7]
Her husband and manager, McCarthy Marie, encouraged her to start her solo career. Her first recording was "Aie Dominique," a "lament for Dominica as the country underwent political problems in the 1970s".[3] The song became a popular anthem among Dominicans, and she began recording with Gordon Henderson, placing herself at the forefront of cadence-lypso. Her debut recording album was the self-titled "Ophelia", which went on to sell 100,000 copies. [8]
She has often sung about women's issues, a rarity at the time, and was among the first women to sing at the Théâtre Noir, Cirque d’Hiver and the Théâtre de la Renaissance.[3] She was the first non-French winner of the Maracas d’Or Award from Société Pernod, and has been awarded International Women's Year in 1985, the Sisserou Award of Honour (the second highest award in Dominica), a Lifetime Award in 2005 and a Golden Drum Award in 1984. In 2005, Ophelia hosted the fifth Dynamith d'Or Caribbean Music Awards.[9] She has inspired CHS's own Charmed Simplicity "BIG UP".
Education
1957–64 | St. Luke’s Primary School, Pointe Michel, Dominica |
1964–69 | Convent High School, Roseau, Dominica |
1972–75 | University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados |
DEGREES: | |
1975 | BA (General), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados |
1977 | Commonwealth Youth Programme Diploma in Advanced Youth Work, University of Guyana |
1984 | Certificate in Theory of Music, Grade IV, Kairi School of Music, Roseau, Dominica |
Career
1975 | French Teacher, Dominica Grammar School, Roseau, Dominica (1975–76) |
1988 | Chief Cultural Officer, Cultural Division, Old Mill Cultural Centre, Canefield (1988–89) |
1993 | Coordinator ENCORE Project (1993–95) |
2001 | Deputy Director of Tourism, National Development Corporation, Roseau, Dominica (2001–06) |
Works
ALBUMS | |
1979 | Ophelia |
1981 | Chanson d'Amour |
1982 | Live in Paris |
1983 | Emigration |
1986 | Trahison |
1990 | Love Vibrations |
1991 | Special |
1992 | Vengeance |
1994 | L'anmou, L'anmou |
1996 | Dominica Ahead |
1997 | Best of Ophelia |
2001 | Noel Oh |
2005 | Hypnotique |
SINGLE | |
1980 | Gloria and Magnifcat |
VIDEO ALBUM | |
1992 | Dominica Sweet |
Awards
Year | Award |
---|---|
1981 | Maracas d'Or award, Société Pernod, France |
1984 | Golden Drum award, Dominica |
1985 | Prominent Women's award, Dominica |
1986 | Award for Musical Fortitude, Sint Maarten |
1996 | FAME Lifetime Award, Dominica |
1998 | Most Outstanding Female Vocalist, FAME Awards, Dominica |
1999 | Sisserou Award of Honour, Dominica |
2003 | Award for Outstanding Contribution to Creole Music, Dominica Festival Committee, Dominica |
2005 | Lifetime Award, Cable and Wireless, Dominica |
2006 | Caribbean Cultural Icon award, CARIFESTA IX, Port of Spain, Trinidad |
See also
References
- ^ "UWI Honours Ophelia Olivacce–Marie", The University of the West Indies Open Campus, 2012.
- ^ "Ophelia Marie - Hypnotique". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ a b c Lynette Ametewèe. "Ophelia Marie, First Lady of Creole". Soca News. Archived from the original on 24 February 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2006.
- ^ "A chat with the Grande Dame of Creole music". The Sun. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ "OPHELIA: La Grande Dame of Creole Music celebrates 40 years in the music business", Dominica News Online, 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Ophelia Marie", Domnitjen, Volume 3, Issue 3.
- ^ "A chat with the Grande Dame of Creole music". The Sun. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ "A chat with the Grande Dame of Creole music". The Sun. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ Gordon Henderson, "Dominica's Lady Of Song Features in Paris Music Awards", The Dominican, Volume No. 1, Issue No. 73, 21 November 2005.
- ^ "Domnitjen Magazine profiles: Ophelia Marie". www.domnitjen.com. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ "Domnitjen Magazine profiles: Ophelia Marie". www.domnitjen.com. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ "Domnitjen Magazine profiles: Ophelia Marie". www.domnitjen.com. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ^ "Domnitjen Magazine profiles: Ophelia Marie". www.domnitjen.com. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
External links
- "Contemporary Music In Dominica: 1950-2000". Division of Culture, Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- "Dominica's Lady Of Song Features in Paris Music Awards". The Dominican. Retrieved 27 May 2006.