Sister-I-Live

Sister I-live was born and raised in the parish of Westmoreland in Jamaica. Her first singing experiences began in her local parish church and school choirs. She later became a participant in the local Youth Club concerts, where she was loved and accepted. This exposure inspired her to start writing her and recording her own compositions.

She and her friends would frequently go to the beach side with guitars and drums and chant music for hours. Sister I-live loved to attend dancehall sessions in clubs by the ocean, where she loved to dance long hours to all kinds of music.

From an early age Sister I-live was interested in seeking a spiritual way of life. At fourteen years old, she began visiting and reasoning with local Rasta breathren and sistren. Sister I-live loved attending the Nyabinghi groundation gatherings where Rasta people would chant together along with hand drums. In 1973, she began to grow her dreadlocks and further her commitment to her faith. When she was 22, Sister I- live moved from the Westmoreland countryside to Kingston where she lived with her world-renowned cousin, Peter Tosh. Peter was a mentor to I-live, and he encouraged her to continue singing.

In 1984 Sister I- live moved to California, where she started performing in the DJ style, toasting over the local sound systems. Then she began singing on stage shows, backing up local reggae performers. In 1987, she got together her own band called the Chosen Few, with some of the best reggae musicians in the Bay Area. In the 90's and early 2000's, I-live and her band performed consistently locally and then spreaded out around the West Coast and Canada.

Sister I- Live's first release for Out Of Many One, Jah Guide was released in 1989. Her follow up release, Jealousy, (2002) was recorded and mixed in Kingston with some of the best reggae studio musicians in the world. Her recorded music provides a strong foundation for her live show repetoire. Sister I-live is a lively performer whose dancing infectiously moves her audiences. Her effervescent, bubbling, upbeat vibes are contagious as she sings and dances.