The female backing vocal group that performed with Bob Marley was the I-Threes. The trio consisted of Rita Marley, Bob Marley’s wife, plus Jamaican singers Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt.
The I-Threes were formed in 1974 after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the Wailers. Their harmonies became a defining part of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ expanded live and studio sound, beginning with the album Natty Dread. The group helped give songs such as “No Woman, No Cry” and “Jamming” their distinctive vocal lift.
The name is often written as “I Threes” or “I-Three,” but “The I-Threes” is the standard quiz answer and refers to this specific trio. They should not be confused with The Skatalites, The Melodians, or The Soulettes, all separate Jamaican musical acts. The I-Threes continued performing with Marley through his final years and contributed backing vocals to several later releases.