Leroy Smart

Infobox musical artist
Name = Leroy Smart


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Background = solo_singer
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Alias = The Don
Born = 1952
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Origin = flagicon|Jamaica Kingston, Jamaica
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Genre = Reggae, dancehall
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Years_active = 1968-
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Leroy Smart, born 1952, Kingston, Jamaica, is a reggae singer and producer.

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, [Liner notes from the "Impressions of Leroy Smart" CD] 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. [Liner notes from the "Dread Hot In Africa" CD, 2006>] 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.cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae |year= 1998 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-7535-0242-9 ]

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

External links

* [http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/136 Discography] at Roots Archives.