{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = Louisa Mark | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Louisa Lynthia Mark | alias = | birth_date = 11 January 1960 | birth_place = Kensal Green, London, England | death_date = {{death date and age|2009|10|17|1960|1|11|df=y}} | death_place = Gambia | instrument = Vocals | genre = Lovers rock | occupation = | years_active = 1975&ndash;2009 | label = Bushays | website = }}

'''Louisa Lynthia Mark''', also known as "Markswoman" (11 January 1960 &ndash; 17 October 2009), was a British lovers rock singer, best known for her work between the mid-1970s and early 1980s.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |first=David |last=Katz |authorlink=David Katz (author)|title=Louisa Mark obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/04/louisa-mark-obituary |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 November 2009 |access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref> Her 1975 single "Caught You in a Lie" is regarded as the first lovers rock single.

==Biography== Mark was born in Kensal Rise, London to Grenadian immigrant parents,<ref name="Guardian" /> and grew up in Shepherd's Bush. She had her introduction to the music business in 1973, initially by working as guest vocalist on Dennis Bovell's Sufferer sound system during its residency at the Metro club in Westbourne Park.<ref name="Guardian" />

In 1974 Mark entered the "Star Search" talent contests held at the Four Aces club in Dalston, where she won for ten consecutive weeks.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998), ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}, p. 181.</ref> Sound-system operator and record producer Lloyd Coxsone supplied dubplates for the contestants to sing over at the contests and, in late 1974, provided the fifteen-year-old Mark with her first recording session, at Gooseberry Studios, where she recorded a cover version of Robert Parker's "Caught You in a Lie", on which she was backed by Matumbi. The song was pressed as a single on Coxsone's Safari label in the UK and was also released in Jamaica by Gussie Clarke.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Barrow">Barrow, Steve, & Dalton, Peter (2004), ''The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.'', Rough Guides, {{ISBN|1-84353-329-4}}, p. 394.</ref>

"Caught You in a Lie" sold 10,000 copies in the first week it was released<ref>{{cite book |last1=De Konigh |first1=Michael |last2=Cane-Honeysett |first2=Laurence |title=Young, Gifted and Black: The Story of Trojan Records |date=2003 |publisher=Sanctuary |isbn=1-86074-464-8 |page=74}}</ref> and reached number on in the UK reggae charts in August 1975.<ref>{{cite journal |title=UK Reggae Charts |journal=Black Music |date=August 1975 |volume=2 |issue=21}}</ref> It is considered the first lovers rock single.<ref name="Barrow" /><ref name="Bradley">Bradley, Lloyd (2000), ''This is Reggae Music: The Story of Jamaica's Music'', Penguin, {{ISBN|0-8021-3828-4}}, p. 440.</ref> The follow up single was a cover version of The Beatles' "All My Loving".<ref name="Larkin" /> Marks' musical career was then interrupted after a dispute with Coxsone and she concentrated on finishing her studies.<ref name="Guardian" /> 200px|thumb|right|Album cover artwork for ''Breakout''. After leaving school, Mark resumed work as a vocalist, this time with Trojan Records house producer and A&R manager Clement Bushay<ref>{{cite magazine |title=From The Music Capitals of the World: London |magazine=Billboard |date=4 September 1976 |pages=59 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1976/Billboard%201976-09-04.pdf |access-date=27 November 2025}}</ref>, and songwriter/arranger Joseph "Tunga" Charles (of Zabandis), releasing "Keep it Like It Is" in 1977. She stayed with Bushay for further releases on his own Bushays label including her rendition of Michael Jackson's "Even Though You're Gone" and "Six Sixth Street", which also reached number one in the reggae charts.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Reggae 12" Disco 45s Chart |journal=Black Echoes |date=13 January 1979}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Reggae Singles Chart |journal=Sounds |date=30 December 1978}}</ref>

Her only album ''Breakout'' was released in 1981.<ref name="Larkin" /> She was unhappy with the album, feeling that it had been released before it had been properly finished,<ref name="Independent obituary">{{cite web |last1=Perrone |first1=Pierre |title=Obituaries: Louisa Mark: Singer and originator of the Lovers Rock genre |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/louisa-mark-singer-and-originator-of-the-lovers-rock-genre-1856808.html |website=independent.co.uk |date=4 January 2010 |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref> and did not record again for over a year. Mark returned to the studio in 1982, recording "Mum and Dad" (arranged by Sly & Robbie).

Mark was voted Artist of The Year in the 1978 Reggae Awards (UK).<ref name="Guardian"/>

==Death== On the 18 October 2009 edition of his BBC London radio show, Dotun Adebayo reported that Mark had died of poisoning in Gambia, where she had been residing.

On 20 October 2009, Trojan Records confirmed the story, stating cause of death was a stomach ulcer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trojanrecords.com/index.php?l1=1&articleID=200&page= |title=Louisa Mark R.I.P. |access-date=26 October 2009 |date=20 October 2009 |publisher=Trojan Records |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704190707/http://trojanrecords.com/index.php?l1=1 |archive-date=4 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenewblackmagazine.com/view.aspx?index=2145|title=Obituary: Louisa Marks|website=Thenewblackmagazine.com|access-date=24 July 2025}}</ref><ref>[http://www.blacknet.co.uk/UK/UK/louisa-marks-legendary-lovers-rock-singer-has-died.html "Black Community Louisa Marks Legendary Lovers Rock Singer has Died".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020181013/http://www.blacknet.co.uk/UK/UK/louisa-marks-legendary-lovers-rock-singer-has-died.html |date=2009-10-20 }}</ref>

==Legacy and influence==

[[File:LouisaMarkDalston.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Memorial plaque for Louisa Mark installed in Dalston Square, 2025.]] ''Breakout'' was reissued as a double album on the Soul Jazz Records label in 2012<ref>{{cite web |last1=Magni |first1=Erik |title=Louisa Mark and Carroll Thompson Reissues |url=https://unitedreggae.com/news/n1460/122112/louisa-mark-and-carroll-thompson-reissues |website=unitedreggae.com |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref> and as a Record Store Day release in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McKerrell |first1=Harry |title=Record Store Day 2023: dates, full vinyl release list and our top picks |url=https://www.whathifi.com/features/record-store-day-2023-dates-full-vinyl-release-list-and-our-top-picks |website=whathifi.com |date=9 March 2023 |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref>

In 2020, Mark's song "Keep It Like It Is" was included in the soundtrack to Steve McQueen's BBC film ''Lovers Rock''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Small Axe: Lovers Rock |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000prjp |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref>

In 2023, artist Sonia Boyce included "Caught You In A Lie" as part of her Desert Island Discs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Desert Island Discs: Sonia Boyce |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jkfg |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref>

On 13 September 2025 an engraved stone honouring Louisa was unveiled at Dalston Square in Hackney, in memory of her performances at The Four Aces Club which was located in the area.<ref name="Hinds">{{cite web |last1=Hinds |first1=Rodney |title=Honouring Dalston's cultural legacy |url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/community/2025/09/04/honouring-dalstons-cultural-legacy/ |website=The Voice |date=4 September 2025 |access-date=7 October 2025}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Breakout'' (1981), Bushays

===Singles=== *"Caught You in a Lie" (1975), Safari - 7" *"All My Loving" (1975), Safari - 7" *"Even Though You're Gone" (1978), Bushays - 12" *"Six Sixth Street" (1978), Bushays - 12" *"Caught You in a Lie" (1979), Voyage International - 12", B-side by Clinton Grant *"People in Love" (1980), Radic - 12" *"Mum and Dad" (1982), Bushays, 12" *"All My Loving (1984), Voyage International - 7" *"Caught You in a Lie" (1984), Code - 12" *"Hello There" (1984), Oak Sound - 12", Louisa Mark & Zabandis *"Keep It Like It Is" (1986), Trojan - 7"/12" *"Reunited" b/w "Reunited Stepping Out" with Kevin & The Bushrangers, Bushays, BFM 113, 12" *"Foolish Fool", Sky Note, 12"

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mark, Louisa}} Category:1960 births Category:2009 deaths Category:People from Kensal Green Category:Lovers rock musicians Category:20th-century Black British women singers Category:20th-century British women singers Category:British reggae musicians