Leroy Smart (born 1952), is a
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use the ...
singer-songwriter and record producer from
Kingston
Kingston may refer to:
Places
* List of places called Kingston, including the five most populated:
** Kingston, Jamaica
** Kingston upon Hull, England
** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia
** Kingston, Ontario, Canada
** Kingston upon Thames, ...
,
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispan ...
.
Biography
Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned at the age of two. He was raised at
Maxfield Park Children's Home
The Maxfield Park Children's home is both the largest and oldest home for displaced children in Jamaica. Founded in Kingston in September 1918, the facility houses children from all parishes
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian ...
and educated at
Alpha Boys School, where he studied singing, drums, and dancing.
[Liner notes from the "Dread Hot In Africa" CD, 2006>]
Smart recorded his first single, "It Pains Me", in 1969 for a producer called Mr. Caribbean.
[Interview with Leroy Smart, 2006, liner notes from the "Dread Hot In Africa" CD] 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.
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.
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'' (1986) Jah Life/WWS
* ''Music in the Dancehall'' (198?), Zion Music Workshop
* ''Musical Don'' (1988) Skengdon
* ''Don of Class'' (1988) WWS
* ''Talk About Friends'' (1993)
* ''Let Everyman Survive'' (1993), Jamaican Gold
* ''Everytime!'' (1994), RAS
* ''Leroy Smart Meets Sister Levi'' (2003), Budgie Entertainments
* ''Mr. Smart in Dub'' (2005), Jamaican Recordings
* ''Private Message'' (2005), Grapevine
* ''Jah Loves Everyone + Impressions'' - CD Album double disc 2019
Burning Sounds
* ''Propaganda album'' - 180 gram Vinyl reissue
Burning Sounds
* ''Impressions'' - 180 gram Vinyl reissue 2020
Burning Sounds
References
External links
Discographyat Roots Archives.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smart, Leroy
Jamaican record producers
1952 births
Living people
Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica
Jamaican reggae musicians