It will be a diamond celebration fit for a queen on Sunday when reggae royalty Marcia Griffiths alongside other renowned acts hit the stage at Hope Gardens in St Andrew to commemorate her 60th anniversary in music.

Judith Bodley, the publicist behind the event who will also co-host, says the performers and planning team have been pulling out all the stops to ensure a successful event.

“People are going to be fascinated with the showcase. It’s a massive musical showcase unlike anything you’ll expect to see. Marcia, in her own right, is a singer, songwriter and fashionista. So what you’re going to be seeing here is going to be absolutely mind-blowing. What is exciting is that it is a family event. There are not many events of this magnitude that are family events. Don’t expect to get there and see anything offensive at all,” Bodley told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.

Hand-selected by Griffiths herself, the line-up includes recently added reggae royalty Skip Marley, Nadine Sutherland, Tanya Stephens, Alaine, and internationally acclaimed acts such as Shaggy, Busy Signal, Tessanne Chin, Brick & Lace, Cutty Ranks, Tony Gregory, and other surprise acts.

The event will begin promptly at 6:00 pm and end at 11:00 pm.

Bodley further noted that there has been a commendable level of support where tickets are concerned.

“Of course, there are tickets online, but then we got [several] calls for tickets locations. So because that has happened we now have tickets available at Music Mart in Kingston; as well as Fontana Mandeville, Montego Bay and Waterloo; and also Fesco in Mandeville now has tickets,” she said.

Born in West Kingston, Jamaica, Griffiths started her career in 1964 performing on stage with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires at the behest of Phillip James of The Blues Busters, who had heard her singing in her home neighbourhood. Her performance was sufficiently impressive that the following day Ronnie Nasralla and Clement Dodd both offered her recording contracts. She chose to record for Dodd’s Studio One label, where she recorded a series of duets with male singers such as Tony Gregory (You’re Mine), Bob Marley ( Oh My Darling), Jeff Dixon (Words), and Bob Andy (Always Together) with whom she would have a relationship lasting several years.

Bodley added that Sunday’s show will also be a celebration of reggae and its impact on the world.

“It is the best that reggae has to offer… this is an ode to reggae. Marcia is the only female who has gotten to this age who has done both reggae and dancehall and is still standing strong on stage, performing and making music,” she said.