Louisa Mark

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Louisa Mark
Born
Louisa Lynthia Mark

11 January 1960
Kensal Green, London, England
Died17 October 2009(2009-10-17) (aged 49)
Gambia
GenresLovers rock
InstrumentVocals
Years active1975–2009
LabelsBushays

Louisa Lynthia Mark, also known as "Markswoman" (11 January 1960 – 17 October 2009), was a British lovers rock singer, best known for her work between the mid-1970s and early 1980s.[1] Her 1975 single "Caught You in a Lie" is regarded as the first lovers rock single.

Biography

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Mark was born in Kensal Rise, London to Grenadian immigrant parents,[1] and grew up in Shepherd's Bush. She had her introduction to the music business in 1973, initially by working as guest vocalist on Dennis Bovell's Sufferer sound system during its residency at the Metro club in Westbourne Park.[1]

In 1974 Mark entered the "Star Search" talent contests held at the Four Aces club in Dalston, where she won for ten consecutive weeks.[1][2] Sound-system operator and record producer Lloyd Coxsone supplied 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, where she recorded a cover version of Robert Parker's "Caught You in a Lie", on which she was backed by Matumbi. The song was pressed as a single on Coxsone's Safari label in the UK and was also released in Jamaica by Gussie Clarke.[2][3]

"Caught You in a Lie" sold 10,000 copies in the first week it was released[4] and reached number on in the UK reggae charts in August 1975.[5] It is considered the first lovers rock single.[3][6] The follow up single was a cover version of The Beatles' "All My Loving".[2] Marks' musical career was then interrupted after a dispute with Coxsone and she concentrated on finishing her studies.[1]

Album cover artwork for Breakout.

After leaving school, Mark resumed work as a vocalist, this time with Trojan Records house producer and A&R manager Clement Bushay[7], and songwriter/arranger Joseph "Tunga" Charles (of Zabandis), releasing "Keep it Like It Is" in 1977. She stayed with Bushay for further releases on his own Bushays label including her rendition of Michael Jackson's "Even Though You're Gone" and "Six Sixth Street", which also reached number one in the reggae charts.[8][9]

Her only album Breakout was released in 1981.[2] She was unhappy with the album, feeling that it had been released before it had been properly finished,[10] 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).[1]

Death

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On the 18 October 2009 edition of his BBC London radio show, Dotun Adebayo reported that Mark had died of poisoning in Gambia, where she had been residing.

On 20 October 2009, Trojan Records confirmed the story, stating cause of death was a stomach ulcer.[11][12][13]

Legacy and influence

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Memorial plaque for Louisa Mark installed in Dalston Square, 2025.

Breakout was reissued as a double album on the Soul Jazz Records label in 2012[14] and as a Record Store Day release in 2023.[15]

In 2020, Mark's song "Keep It Like It Is" was included in the soundtrack to Steve McQueen's BBC film Lovers Rock.[16]

In 2023, artist Sonia Boyce included "Caught You In A Lie" as part of her Desert Island Discs.[17]

On 13 September 2025 an engraved stone honouring Louisa was unveiled at Dalston Square in Hackney, in memory of her performances at The Four Aces Club which was located in the area.[18]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Breakout (1981), Bushays

Singles

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  • "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 - 12"
  • "Caught You in a Lie" (1979), Voyage International - 12", B-side by Clinton Grant
  • "People in Love" (1980), Radic - 12"
  • "Mum and Dad" (1982), Bushays, 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
  • "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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Katz, David (4 November 2009). "Louisa Mark obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Larkin, Colin (1998), The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 181.
  3. ^ a b Barrow, Steve, & Dalton, Peter (2004), The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p. 394.
  4. ^ De Konigh, Michael; Cane-Honeysett, Laurence (2003). Young, Gifted and Black: The Story of Trojan Records. Sanctuary. p. 74. ISBN 1-86074-464-8.
  5. ^ "UK Reggae Charts". Black Music. 2 (21). August 1975.
  6. ^ Bradley, Lloyd (2000), This is Reggae Music: The Story of Jamaica's Music, Penguin, ISBN 0-8021-3828-4, p. 440.
  7. ^ "From The Music Capitals of the World: London" (PDF). Billboard: 59. 4 September 1976. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Reggae 12" Disco 45s Chart". Black Echoes. 13 January 1979.
  9. ^ "Reggae Singles Chart". Sounds. 30 December 1978.
  10. ^ Perrone, Pierre. "Obituaries: Louisa Mark: Singer and originator of the Lovers Rock genre". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Louisa Mark R.I.P." Trojan Records. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Obituary: Louisa Marks". Thenewblackmagazine.com. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Black Community Louisa Marks Legendary Lovers Rock Singer has Died". Archived 2009-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Magni, Erik. "Louisa Mark and Carroll Thompson Reissues". unitedreggae.com. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  15. ^ McKerrell, Harry. "Record Store Day 2023: dates, full vinyl release list and our top picks". whathifi.com. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Small Axe: Lovers Rock". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Desert Island Discs: Sonia Boyce". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  18. ^ Hinds, Rodney. "Honouring Dalston's cultural legacy". The Voice. Retrieved 7 October 2025.