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Leroy Smart

 
Artist: Leroy Smart
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Dennis Brown, Ninjaman, Dillinger, Marcia Griffiths, I-Roy, Barrington Levy
  • Active: '70s, '80s, '90s
  • Genres: Reggae
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "Very Best of Leroy Smart", "Impressions of Leroy Smart", "Reggae Is Jah Music
  • Representative Songs: "Ballistic Affair", "Worried About You", "Best Friend of Mine

Biography

A master of love songs and roots material, Leroy Smart has been on the reggae scene since the early '70s. He was raised in Kingston's Alpha Catholic Boys Home and began recording in the early '70s. Smart worked with such producers as Gussie Clarke, Joe Joe Hookin, and Bunny Lee while gaining fame for a flamboyant performance style, exceptionally anguished delivery, and penetrating vocal manner. Smart's smashing voice often seemed about to collapse from anxiety and earnestness mid-song. He has continued to maintain his popularity, never scoring any crossover or international hits, but retaining his pull with the notoriously fickle Jamaican audience. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Leroy Smart
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Leroy Smart
Also known as The Don
Born 1952
Origin Flag of Jamaica Kingston, Jamaica
Genre(s) Reggae, dancehall
Years active 1968-

Leroy Smart, born 1952, Kingston, Jamaica, is a reggae singer and producer.

Contents

Biography

Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned aged 2. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys School,[1] where he studied singing, drums and dancing.[2]

Smart recorded his first single, "It Pains Me" in 1969 for a producer called Mr. Caribbean.[3] In 1970 he recorded "Ethiopia" for Joe Gibbs, and the first version of one of his most famous songs, "Pride & Ambition", with producer Gussie Clarke. His breakthrough would come in 1973 with "Mother Liza", produced by Jimmy Radway, which topped the local singles chart, and led to "Pride & Ambition" also becoming a big local hit.[4] After working with Bunny Lee for several years, he recorded another of his best-known songs, "Ballistic Affair" at Channel One, in 1976, and began producing himself in 1977. Smart has continued recording and remains popular, with over 35 albums to his name. He is regarded as one of Jamaica's most outrageous and colourful characters.[5]

Smart appeared in the film Rockers along with contemporaries such as Gregory Isaacs and Jacob Miller.

Albums

  • Ballistic Affair (1977) Conflict/Channel One (aka The Very Best of Leroy Smart)
  • Dread Hot In Africa (1977) Burning Sounds
  • Impressions of Leroy Smart (1977) Burning Sounds
  • Superstar (1977) Third World/Jackpot
  • In London Clinker (1978) Attack
  • Jah Loves Everyone (1978) Burning Sounds
  • Propaganda (1978) Burning Rockers/Burning Sounds
  • Let Everyman Survive (1979) GG's
  • Showcase Rub A Dub (1979) GG's
  • Disco Showcase (1979) Gussie
  • Harder Than The Rest (197?) Tad's
  • Reggae Showcase Vol 1 (197?) Imperial
  • Too Much Grudgefulness (1981) Jah Life
  • She Just a Draw Card (1982) Worldwide Success
  • On Top (1983) Live & Learn
  • She Love It In The Morning (1983) GG's
  • Style and Fashion (1983) Nura
  • Exclusive (1984) Dynamite
  • Live Up Roots Children (1984) Sunset
  • Rockers Award Winners (1985) Greensleeves (with Sugar Minott)
  • Back To Back (1985) Volcano (with Junior Reid)
  • Bank Account (1985) Powerhouse
  • Showcase (1985) Fatman
  • We Rule Everytime (1985) Jammy's
  • Face To Face Clash (1985) Sunset (with Junior Reid)
  • Prophecy a Go Hold Dem (198?) Jah Life/WWS
  • Musical Don (1988) Skengdon
  • Talk About Friends (1993)
  • Don of Class (198?) WWS

References

  1. ^ Liner notes from the "Impressions of Leroy Smart" CD
  2. ^ Liner notes from the "Dread Hot In Africa" CD, 2006>
  3. ^ Interview with Leroy Smart, 2006, liner notes from the "Dread Hot In Africa" CD
  4. ^ Liner notes from the "Dread Hot In Africa" CD, 2006>
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0242-9. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Leroy Smart".  Read more

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