General Smiley
About General Smiley
Bio
General Smiley
began his career in the late 70s at Studio One under the direction of the late great"Sir Coxsone Dodd". General Smiley is one-half of Jamaica's number one Dee Jay duo Papa Michigan and General Smiley. Papa Michigan (born Anthony Fairclough) and General Smiley (born Erroll Bennett) were among the first dual-toasters on the Jamaican scene. Beginning in the late '70s while still
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Members
General Smiley
General Smiley was one-half of Jamaica's number one Dee Jay duo Papa Michigan and General Smiley. General Smiley (born Errol Bennett) was among the first dual-toasters on the Jamaican scene. Beginning in the late '70s while still in school, the humorous duo (Smiley got his name because he rarely smiles) They first recorded at Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One in Jamaica, pressing their first number one hit single, "Rub a Dub Style", which featured their call and response style vocals, overdubbed on the Studio One riddim, "Vanity" (the instrumental alias given to Alton Ellis' Rocksteady classic, "I'm Just A Guy").[1] Their next single, perhaps a larger hit, "Nice Up the Dance" was a version of the quintessential Studio 1 rhythm, "Real Rock". These singles, with four other tracks, also versions of Studio One rhythms, were released as their first album, Nice Up the Dance. The names of these two singles were quickly incorporated into the lexicon of dancehall phraseology. Their call and response style was likewise influential on the future developments of the music, blending together straightforward singing styles and toasting. By 1982, they caught the attention of Henry "Junjo" Lawes, who recorded their biggest hit, "Diseases" over the "Mad Mad" riddim. This track was featured on their second LP, Downpression. They went on to cut an album for Channel One Records, Step by Step. The last of their hit records was "Sugar Daddy", pressed on RAS Records, which featured yet another reworking of "Mad Mad". The duo continues to record and make appearances at festivals and has both released solo recordings. Throughout the 80s Michigan And Smiley sustained attention in the album charts with the releases Step By Step, Sugar Daddy, Back In The Biz, and Reality Must Rule Again. The duo enjoyed a revival in the 90s when some of their earlier hits resurfaced through VP in the USA. Presently Michigan and Smiley are no more as they both are involved in their respective Projects within the realms of the art. General Smiley has since completed his first solo CD entitled "Aim Goal Plan" recorded at the Kingston Studio, produced by Jillian Wess for upful One Records now available for download on Itunes and CD Baby "Stages" Is the General's second solo CD but the first produced inside the RuffCompany Studio is now available for download on iTunes Since 2005 General Smiley has been touring northern California, the northeast U.S, northwest U.S, and the southeast U.S with some young artists such as Part One Tribe Band from Cocoa Beach Florida, Soul Medic from Nevada City California along with Jah Works of Big Island Hawaii, Mr. Kali from New Mexico alongside Ken Serious from Clarendon JA touring with many top DJs. In 2008 when he passed through Austin, Texas on tour, General Smiley linked up with McPullish at Dub Compound Studio for a late-night dub session after a show. When Smiley heard the music McPullish was working on he was inspired to record some new lyrics he had been carrying around in his head, thus creating their first collaboration: Natty Natty. Smiley also recorded some fiery dub specials that evening and these two have been collaborating ever since. Charlie is happy to report that a full-length album and full dub companion album have been completed and are now available. General Smiley Meets McPullish At Dub Cove The music on this album is a fresh take on roots reggae, dub, and more, drawing from a wide palette and many diverse influences. https://www.facebook.com/The.O.G.Smiley/
General Smiley
Rapper VocalistGeneral Smiley was one-half of Jamaica's number one Dee Jay duo Papa Michigan and General Smiley.
General Smiley (born Errol Bennett) was among the first dual-toasters on the Jamaican scene.
Begin...
Greetings!
Once again I'm saying thank you for your continued support, you have given me the impetus to continue to write and record real authentic Reggae music.
Again I say thank you!
Veteran reggae artist General Smiley alongside Ruff Company Records brings you his latest single “Hard Working People” engineered by RJ Johnson of Music For Life studios.
“General Smiley was one-half of Jamaica's number one Dee Jay duo Papa Michigan and General Smiley. General Smiley (born Errol Bennett) was among the first dual-toasters on the Jamaican scene. The humorous duo (Smiley got his name because he rarely smiles) began in the late '70s while still in school.
Presently Michigan and Smiley are no more as they both are involved in their respective projects. General Smiley completed his first solo CD entitled "Aim Goal Plan", recorded at the Kingston Studio, and produced by Jillian Wess for Upful One Records. "Stages" was the General's second solo CD, the first one to be produced in the Ruff Company Studio. Since then General Smiley has released several solo albums and singles..General Smiley’s latest single, “Hard Working People”, was released by Ruff Company Records in June 2022”
Hard Working People03:07
Greetings Friend,
Veteran reggae artist General Smiley alongside Ruff Company Records bring you his latest single “Hard Working People” engineered by RJ Johnson of Music For Life studios.
“General Smiley was one-half of Jamaica's number one Dee Jay duo Papa Michigan and General Smiley. General Smiley (born Errol Bennett) was among the first dual-toasters on the Jamaican (expired link) humorous duo (Smiley got his name because he rarely smiles) began in the late '70s while still in school.
Presently Michigan and Smiley are no more as they both are involved in their respective (expired link) Smiley completed his first solo CD entitled "Aim Goal Plan", recorded at the Kingston Studio, and produced by Jillian Wess for Upful One Records. "Stages" was the General's second solo CD, the first one to be produced in the Ruff Company Studio. Since then General Smiley has released several solo albums and singles..General Smiley’s latest single, “Hard Working People”,was released by Ruff Company Records in June 2022”
Hard Working People03:07
Right after I graduated high school I volunteered to do the national youth service as a teacher, teaching in a service called ” into the light “ or “ Jamal “ this was an adult learning program then so I was teaching adults some of the subjects I learned in high school. I was doing this for a while before I realized the restrictions of the curriculum, I found out that there were not much I could expand on because of the time given to do so and I felt frustrated and clustered inside because there were so much more I wanted to say and that was when I started jotting down the way I felt and some things I wanted to say. When I go home in the evenings I would think a lot about what I wanted to say to the people but can’t. I kept this inside for two years, the time required to fulfill that voluntary services but just before my time was up the ministry of education sent me an invitation to attend teacher’s college tuition-free but I turned it down and went on to study bookkeeping and accounting instead at the Jamaica Commercial Institute, so while going to school I formed a club so we could promote social events inside the school among the classes and that was when I started reciting some of the poems I was writing as lyrics to songs. Ultimately after years of writing and performing some of these writings and the encouragement of some of my producers and life on a whole keep changing I decided to publish this poetry to share with the world my more that I’ve always wanted and still do want to say.
Read moreRight after I graduated high school I volunteered to do the national youth service as a teacher, teaching in a service called ” into the light “ or “ Jamal “ this was an adult learning program then so I was teaching adults some of the subjects I learned in high school. I was doing this for a while before I realized the restrictions of the curriculum, I found out that there were not much I could expand on because of the time given to do so and I felt frustrated and clustered inside because there were so much more I wanted to say and that was when I started jotting down the way I felt and some things I wanted to say. When I go home in the evenings I would think a lot about what I wanted to say to the people but can’t. I kept this inside for two years, the time required to fulfill that voluntary services but just before my time was up the ministry of education sent me an invitation to attend teacher’s college tuition-free but I turned it down and went on to study bookkeeping and accounting instead at the Jamaica Commercial Institute, so while going to school I formed a club so we could promote social events inside the school among the classes and that was when I started reciting some of the poems I was writing as lyrics to songs. Ultimately after years of writing and performing some of these writings and the encouragement of some of my producers and life on a whole keep changing I decided to publish this poetry to share with the world my more that I’ve always wanted and still do want to say.
Read moreOnce again I would like to say thank you all for your continued support, I will continue to try my best and bring you real authentic reggae music.
you're appreciated.
Greetings and a blessed love continually
Here is where I want to tell you thanks for your continued support.
I’m so excited and honored that you’re enjoying my works that I will endeavor to put in the works to keep this fire burning and bring you even better presentations that will keep you here with us.
Once again Thanks
Yours always
The General Smiley
Rasta Jah Boo CEO at Dub Me Records out of Grants Pass Arizona decided to ring in the festive seasons with some new releases,
which also includes a new single by legendary artist General Smiley whom many of you might have known the artist is no stranger to this label.
This new single is entitled " Sick And Tired " on the " Fed Up Riddim " is set to be released this fall and might be and addition to a up coming EP slated to be released in the coming year please stay tune for the release and more on the up coming Sick and Tired Tour for the springtime of 2018 hopefully coming to your city.
Rasta Jah B at Dub Me Records out of Grants Pass Arizona is pleased to present to you all this new release by General Smiley single entitled "Sick And Tired " on the "Fed Up Riddim " stay tuned for this new piece of work from the living legend
Read moreAbout General Smiley
Bio
General Smiley
began his career in the late 70s at Studio One under the direction of the late great"Sir Coxsone Dodd". General Smiley is one-half of Jamaica's number one Dee Jay duo Papa Michigan and General Smiley. Papa Michigan (born Anthony Fairclough) and General Smiley (born Erroll Bennett) were among the first dual-toasters on the Jamaican scene. Beginning in the late '70s while still in school, the humorous duo (Smiley got his name because he never smiles)
They first recorded at Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One in Jamaica, pressing their first number one hit single, "Rub a Dub Style", which featured their call and response style vocals, overdubbed on the Studio One riddim, "Vanity" (the instrumental alias given to Alton Ellis' Rocksteady classic, "I'm Just A Guy").[1] Their next single, perhaps a larger hit, "Nice Up the Dance" was a version of the quintessential Studio 1 rhythm, "Real Rock". These singles, with four other tracks, also versions of Studio One rhythms, were released as their first album, Nice Up the Dance. The names of these two singles were quickly incorporated into the lexicon of dancehall phraseology.
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Past Events
Sat
Feb 29
8:00 PM
All Ages
Flamingo Cantina
United States, Texas, Austin, 515 E. 6th Street, 78701
