The thing that popped into my mind when I saw today’s word prompt ‘three” was a verse from a Bob Marley song called “Three Little Birds.”  The verse:

Rise up this mornin’
Smiled with the risin’ sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying’, (this is my message to you)

In this instance, I truly believe the three little birds that he is talking about were his backup singers.  The singing trio was a group called the “I-Threes.” The group consisted of Bob’s wife Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt. The individual singers weren’t just any random singers; they were well known on the reggae genre having hits on the chart.  But as a group they are best known for being the backup singers to Bob Marley and the Wailers.

The story goes, in 1974 when Peter Tosh one of the original Wailers that was still around left group over contractual disputes with Island Records producer Chris Blackwell; there was need to replace his harmonically voice. The I- threes were formed as a replacement.