Alpha Boys School Radio: Your #1 Musical Passport to Jamaica!
Keep up with the beat...
  • Home
  • Alpha Boys' School
    • RSM in JA
    • Alpha's History
    • Alpha Roll Call
  • Listen
    • On Air
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Class Superlatives
  • Shop
    • 格納 (Japanese)
  • News
  • Visit
    • Kingston
    • 臨場 (Japanese)
    • Visit Alpha

LEROY SMART

Picture
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, where he studied singing, drums and dancing. Smart recorded his first single, "It Pains Me" in 1969 for a producer called Mr. Caribbean. 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. Smart appeared in the film Rockers along with Alpha classmate Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace, Richard 'Dirty Harry' Hall, Bobby Ellis and Tommy McCook as well as contemporaries Gregory Isaacs and Jacob Miller.
Picture