Sister Carol - THC (The Healing Cure) (2017)

Her formative years were spent at St Anne’s Primary School and Mico-Practicing All-Age School. Her father, Howard East, was a senior engineer who dedicated his life to his career at RJR (Radio Jamaica Rediffusion), the number one radio station during that time. He was also a very important part of the Studio One and Treasure Isle Sound. He regularly participated in sessions with the legendary ‘Clement Coxsone Dodd’. These early influences not only left an indelible mark on her heart, but also drew her closer to the infusion of the music industry.
At the age of 14, her family immigrated to Brooklyn, NY in 1973. The thriving dancehall scene of New York City led this young rising star to a path that would acknowledge her talents with multiple awards, television appearances, sold out concerts and movies.
Following in the footsteps of her mentor and friend, DJ Brigadier Jerry, her musical career began after winning talent contests in both Kingston and New York. Sister Carol was offered an opening slot for one of Jamaica’s finest vocal trios, ‘The Mediations’, who had provided the harmony backup vocals for Bob Marley.
This opportunity opened the door for her to record her first two records ‘Liberation for Africa’ on the Serious Gold Label 1983 and ‘Black Cinderella’ on Jah Life Label 1984, bringing her greatest talents, personality, and vibe to a wider audience establishing herself firmly in the dancehall/DJ movement. During this time, she dominated the music scene, winning the coveted ‘Best Female DJ’ for five consecutive years from 1983 to 1987. With these accolades behind her, she established her own ‘Black Cinderella Record Label’ in 1989.
In the midst of her success as an artist, she continued to pursue an education by attending City College of New York, where she obtained a B.Sc. Degree in Education in 1984.
A true testament to her resilient spirit and energy spans over thirty-five years in a male dominated industry, Sister Carol is a trailblazer for women in reggae. Her music carries a social message for people all over the world. Her message is rich with cultural heritage and infused with a vital social consciousness that permeates every aspect of life in the new millennium. (Hence her title as ‘Mother Culture’).
She has maintained a loyal fan base across the globe, ranging from Kingston to Queens, Ethiopia to England, Detroit to Denver, East coast to West coast – Sister Carol reigns as the Queen of Reggae.
Her prolific music career includes over 12 albums/CDs, a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Reggae Album’ in 1997, ‘Most Outstanding Reggae Artist’ two consecutive years in 1997 and 1998, and ‘Queen of Reggae’ in 2000 in Detroit, Michigan, New York City Council Proclamation celebrating Jamaica’s 39th year of independence. Also honoring Jamaicans in New York for outstanding cultural contribution to life in the city of New York in 2001, Institute of Caribbean Studies Wash. DC – ‘Cultural Heritage Award for Excellence in Music’ in 2004, ‘Lifetime Achievement’ in 2008 in Columbus, Ohio, ‘Roots Women in Reggae’ 2009 to name just a few.
A showcase of Sister Carol’s greatest achievements includes 2001 the release of ‘All I Have Is Love’/Tribute To Studio One on the Easy Star/Black Cinderella/Napticorn label and recording her first live CD ‘Direct Hit’ for release on the Catapult/Black Cinderella label.
In 2003, she released ‘Empressive’ CD on the ‘Black Cinderella label’, which was also released in France on the m10 label the following year. In 2004 and 2005, she toured France, New Caledonia, West Africa and the USA promoting her ‘Empressive’ CD.
Later, in 2006, she celebrated her ‘Silver Jubilee’ as a solo artist, releasing a new CD/DVD ‘1Derful Words’ on the Black Cinderella label. In 2007, she recorded a single titled ‘Dancing Shoes’ with Bunny Wailer, a former band member of Bob Marley and the Wailers.
To celebrate her 30 years in the music industry, in 2011, Sister Carol and friends released ‘Togetherness’ on iTunes on the Black Cinderella label.
In 2014, she released ‘Live No Evil’ on the Black Cinderella Record label.
With numerous interviews in mainstream media, Sister Carol has been a guest twice on NBC’s David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, New York at Nite with Clint Holmes WORT.V., VH1 with Nile Rodgers, Good Morning America with Bryant Gumbel, as well as earning praise in the print media such as Billboard, The Village Voice and many others. She was the familiar voice behind NBCTV Night Music with Jools Holland and David Sanborn as the MC. In 1999, Tuff Gong, the label started by reggae icon Bob Marley, released Sister Carol’s Isis ‘the Original Womb-man’.
Beyond her music career, she burst on the silver screen in 1986 in her first feature film ‘Something Wild’ with Melanie Griffiths and Jeff Daniels, followed by ‘Married to the Mob’ with Michelle Pfeiffer, Dean Stockwell and Matthew Modine in 1988 and in 2008 with Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway in ‘Rachel is Getting Married’. All three movies were directed by Academy Award winning Director Jonathan Demme. Her collaboration with Mr. Demme continued with the 2015 summer release of her fourth movie ‘Ricki and the Flash’ with multiple award winning actress Meryl Streep.
Apart from roles in the above-mentioned movies, many of her songs have been used in numerous movies:
The song ‘Milk n Honey’ taken from her Grammy nominated album in 1997 ‘Lyrically Potent’, was used twice in the newly released movie ‘Ricki and the Flash’. Another song titled ‘Original Drum’ was featured in the movie ‘Failure to Launch’ with Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Her song ‘Principle’ was used in the 1988 movie ‘The Mighty Quinn’ starring Denzel Washington.
The song titled ‘Dread Natty Congo’ was featured in the movie ‘Rachel is Getting Married’ in 2008.
Sister Carol performed her song ‘Wild Thing’ in the 1987 movie ‘Something Wild’.
Sister Carol continues her entrepreneurial spirit with her ‘Black Cinderella’ clothing line, which is in full force. She also has a CD titled ‘Opportunity’, produced by Glen Adams of Hippie Boys and Wailers fame, and a duet CD of collaborations with many other artists in the works for release soon.
As well as an amazing professional career, her personal life stands firm. She has been married for over two decades and is a dedicated mother of four and a doting grandmother of 11 to her ultimate pride and joy.
Sister Carol is a Warrior Queen and a true Renaissance woman who continues to tour the world and teach her message in her musical classrooms—The majestical vibrations continues…