One of the legends of rocksteady, Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith, universally known as Ernie Smith, He died to the 80 years last Thursday 16 of April, in Florida, U.S.
The artist, who was just a few days away from fulfilling 81 years, suffered cardiac complications that ended his life.
Born in Kingston and raised in the parish of St. Ann, Ernie Smith was a fundamental pillar in the evolution of Jamaican sounds.
His relationship with music began at 12 years, when he received his first guitar, instrument that would accompany him during more than six decades of professional career.
A meteoric rise and global successes
After taking his first steps with the band The Vandals, Smith made his first recording, “I Can’t Take It”, in an unusual way: during an audition for a job at a local radio station. But nevertheless, It was in the decade of 1970 when his career reached global dimensions.
classics like “Bend Down”, “Ride On Sammy” Y “One Dream” cemented their reputation, but it was the hit “Pitta Patta” the one that catapulted him to number one in Jamaica in 1973.
Shortly after, your song “Life Is Just for Living” —originally created for a Red Stripe beer campaign— crossed borders, becoming a massive success in markets as diverse as Japan.
Exile and collaboration with the Marley family
Smith's career was not without difficulties. In 1976, your album The Power And The Glory was censored due to high political tension in Jamaica.
After receiving threats, the artist was forced to emigrate, settling first in Toronto, Canada, and later in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
During his time in the United States, Ernie Smith collaborated closely with Cedella Booker, mother of Bob Marley. Together they recorded songs with a deep spiritual and social message such as “No Tribulation” Y “Let The Children Play”.
A legacy that transcends generations
Upon his return to Jamaica at the end of the 80, Smith continued active with his band The New Agenda. In 1996, surprised the scene with the project Dancehall Ernie Cleans It Up, where he refreshed his classical repertoire with modern sounds.
His latest album, Country Mile (2008), It was an example of his ability to unite veterans and new promises of Jamaican music..
Ernie Smith's music was characterized by its honesty and lyrics that oscillated between the reflective and the playful., always maintaining a genuine connection with their roots.
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