Yvonne Curtis

Yvonne Curtis, born Yvonne McIntosh in Jamaica, is a reggae and soca singer who has lived in the United Kingdom since the early 1960s. Starting as a gospel singer in St. Ann, Jamaica, she moved to London as a teenager for education and better opportunities. Curtis began performing in local bands during the 1970s, gaining recognition after entering a vocal contest in South London and working with local producers. Her first notable releases included "What's Your Name" with Third World Music and "Convenient Woman" with Empire Records, establishing her as a rising talent in the UK reggae scene. During the late 1970s through the 1990s, Curtis became the lead singer of the reggae band the Serenaders, achieving hits with songs such as "Only for Lovers" and her self-written "Sweet Loving." Her growing popularity led to international tours across Germany, Nicaragua, and Brazil, and appearances on UK television shows like The Big Breakfast and Carlton Television's Warehouse Showcase. Curtis also collaborated with other bands, including Wavet and the Reggae Boys, and performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall. In the 2000s and beyond, Curtis continued her solo career after the Serenaders disbanded, releasing the album Lets Unite in Love in 2013 and joining Digital Jukebox Records in 2015 for a compilation of her greatest hits and new releases. She has remained an active performer, traveling between Jamaica and the UK, gaining renewed international recognition, and being featured in Vogue’s 2022 Black History Month edition. Curtis is celebrated as one of reggae’s hardest-working female vocalists, with a career spanning over six decades, including annual performances at the UK Reggae Land festival.