Leroy Smart

Leroy Smart
Leroy Smart
Also known as	The Don
Born	1952 (age 71–72)
Origin	Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Conscious Roots Reggae, Dub, dancehall
Years active	1968–present
Labels	Burning Sounds, Secret Records

Leroy Smart (born 1952) is a reggae singer-songwriter and record producer from Kingston, Jamaica.

Biography

Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned at the age of two. 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. In 1972, he recorded the conscious tune, "God Helps The Man" for Bunny Lee's Jackpot label, drawing inspiration from the ancient wisdom and fable teaching God helps those who help themselves. 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.^[2] 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.^[4]

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

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

External links

Discography at Roots Archives

[1] Liner notes from the "Impressions of Leroy Smart" CD

[Linernotes-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

[Larkin-4] Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0242-9.

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