Rita Marley ADD
Cynthia ‘Joyce’ Webber Has Died - A Pioneering Female Voice in Jamaican Music
06/08/2025 by Carl Finlay
REST IN POWER CYNTHIA 'JOYCE' WEBBER [July 28, 1941 - June 4, 2025]
Cynthia Webber, affectionately known as “Joyce”, was born in Kingston, Jamaica on the 28th of July 1941. She passed on Wednesday, the 4th of June in Toronto, Canada where she had lived for over 50 years. A trailblazing figure in Jamaica’s early recording scene, she was best known as one half of the vocal duo The Tonettes.
Born and raised in Rose Town, Kingston, Cynthia grew up in a musical family. She and her younger sister Merlene began performing as the Webber Sisters in the early 1960s, while their brother David “King” Webber would later become a founding member of The Gladiators. The sisters initially made their mark on the stages of Kingston’s clubs and theatres, and their talent soon caught the attention of producer Clement “Coxson” Dodd. Under his mentorship, they were rebranded as The Tonettes and began recording in 1963 — becoming, perhaps, the first girl group to make studio recordings in Jamaica. It was a quiet but important milestone in a male-dominated industry.
Their biggest hit for Dodd came in 1968 with I’ll Give It to You [LISTEN HERE], a seductive rock steady gem that remains a favourite among fans of vintage Jamaican music.
Among their most enduring — though uncredited — contributions was the original version of Stop That Train, recorded with vocalist Winston Jones for producer Prince Buster. Though released under the name Spanish Town Skabeats [LISTEN HERE], the track featured the Webber Sisters’ distinctive harmonies. Two years later, the song was reimagined by Keith & Tex for producer Derrick Harriott — becoming one of the most iconic rock steady recordings of all time.
Cynthia emigrated to Toronto in 1969, where she worked primarily as a nurse and caregiver. But she never left music behind. She founded Black Eagle Records, through which she continued to release material by the Webber Sisters and remained a proud steward of their legacy.
Though never a household name, Cynthia ‘Joyce’ Webber holds a special place in Jamaican music history — a pioneering woman whose voice helped lay the foundation for other ladies to follow. She will be remembered for her talent, her humour and her strength, both on stage and off.
She is survived by her son Paul Reid, her daughter-in-law Lori Reid, three siblings (Maria Ann, Merlene and Vivian), twenty-two grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
LISTEN: THE TONETTES - I'LL GIVE TO YOU
