She is a singer-songwriter born in Industry Village, Gordon Town, Jamaica who sang as a child in her church choir, was in a touring dance troup and began her professional career in the 1960s.
She became a member of The Gaylettes (aka The Gaytones) in 1967. When they split in 1970 she went out on her own, occasionally known as Juliann Mowatt, and also joined up with Rita Marley to sing backing vocals for Marcia Griffiths and Bob Andy in their chart-hitting duo Bob & Marcia.
This led to the setting up of the trio The I-Three who went on to back Bob Marley & The Wailers on their hit songs and albums during the remainder of the 1970s and until Bob Marley passed away in 1981. She also concentrated on her solo career at the same time and became the first female reggae performer to co-produce her own album, with the resultant 1978 album Black Woman. She released another album in 1982 with the title Only a Woman.
In the following decade she became a Christian and began to perform gospel songs. In 1985 her Working Woman album brought her the first Grammy Award nomination for a female reggae singer and in 1986 she found herself back with the I-Threes on a tour with The Wailers Band and Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers. This resulted in her 1998 Love, which became the first gospel album she recorded. Two years later she released Soldiers of Jesus Christ, which was a project that involved other reggae artists who had converted to Christianity. A further two years down the line, in 2002, her album of old and new songs Something Old, Something Newon which she re-worded some lyrics and also sang church music with her own arrangements.
Throughout the course of her career she has worked with many other artists that include Big Youth, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, U-Roy, The Wailing Souls and Freddie McGregor, who she has a daughter with. Today she is still giving performing and recording and is a member of The Bible Teachers International Ministries.
Bob Marley & The Wailers recordings
Could You Be Loved (Bob Marley )
Island WIP 6610-A (UK 45)
One Drop (Bob Marley )
Island WIP 6610-B (UK 45)
Redemption Song (Bob Marley)
Island: WIP 6653-A (UK 45 PS)
Redemption Song (Band Version)(Bob Marley)
Island: WIP 6653-B (UK 45 PS)