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Lady Saw (born Marion Hall, 12 July, Saint Mary, Jamaica), is known primarily as "the first Lady of Dancehall". She is the first female deejay to win a Grammy Award and to be certified a triple-platinum artist. She is also the first woman to headline dancehall shows outside her native Jamaica. Marion was born in the summer of 1972 in Galina, parish of Saint Mary. As a child she was a tomboy, sold fruits, and raced wooden karts. At the age of 15, she took the name Lady Saw after the famous Jamaican Deejay Tenor Saw, whose style she is said to emulate. She quit a sewing job at The Free Zone on the outskirts of Kingston to pursue music fulltime.
Similar to other Jamaican artists, Lady Saw started her career on local sound systems. This is a good school if one wants to prepare to eventually record in studio sessions. The Jamaican recording industry is a hard one, and it is of great importance for an artist to have their act together once they enter the studio. Lady Saw is an artist with the abilities to deliver the goods and did so from day one till present! Saw gave great inspiration and empowered female artists in the reggae scene and beyond. She is, and has for the last 15 + years been the number one female dancehall star without doubt, even with strong competition from younger talents like Cecile, Tanya Stephens, and Spice on the Reggae Music scene.
Lady Saw has also collaborated with her male and female peers on several tracks: with Beenie Man on tracks such as "Healing"; with Sean Paul on "Bossman"; with her protégé Dancehall vocalist Ce'Cile on "Loser". She has also worked with artists outside of the dancehall genre: Missy Elliott, Eve (rapper), Lil' Kim, Vitamin C, Gwen Stefani, and Foxy Brown. Lady Saw laid down the blueprint that many successful US female rappers used to ignite their successful careers!
To date Lady Saw has sold over 6 Million records worldwide with her 8 Albums and numerous singles. Lady Saw was the 1st female dancehall artist to receive a Grammy! Her music has been placed in movies, on television and used advertisements to sell products like Hersey's & Tide.
Following her release from VP Records, Marion formed her own independent label called, Diva Records! Look out for Lady Saw's soon to be released new album which will be dropping early 2010! Stay tuned!
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