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MICHIGAN &
SMILEY
Michigan and
Smiley are a Jamaican singjay
duo of the late seventies first
wave of Dancehall music, which
included Yellowman, Eek a Mouse,
Lone Ranger, General Echo, and
others.
They first
recorded at Clement Coxsone
Dodd's famous Studio 1, pressing
their first number one hit, "Rub
a Dub Style", which featured
their innovative call and
response style vocals overdubbed
on the classic Studio 1 rhythm,
"Vanity".
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 classic
Studio 1 rhythms, were released
as their first LP, "Rub A Dub
Style". 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. |
In 1980 they
recorded “One Love
Jam Down” at one of the
most famous recording studios in
Jamaica, “Tuff Gong Studios” on
the 56 Hope Road label. By 1981,
they caught the attention of
seminal dancehall producer,
Henry "Junjo" Lawes, who
recorded their biggest hit,
"Diseases" over the then
immensely popular "Mad Mad"
rhythm. This track was featured
on their second and perhaps best
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 continued to record and
make appearances at festivals
into the early nineties.
The two have
since been working on solo
projects. General Smiley has
recently released his new album
“Stages” and is producing other
artists as well on His
“RuffCompany Records” label.”
Papa Michigan has been producing
and distributing from his "RASHANCO
RECORDS" in Jamaica.
The Duo continues
touring together and is
still rocking the stage with
their fabulous hits and exciting
new music. Presently Michigan
and Smiley is working hard
laying down tracks and voicing
inside RuffCompany Studio for
the new CD.
Michigan & Smiley
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