Most reggae fans know General Smiley as part of a dancehall duo that included fellow deejay Papa Michigan. They had several hit songs during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
They have not released songs as an act for some time, but General Smiley is active as an artist, producer and poet. One of his latest projects as a producer is by an American singer, scheduled for release in November.
“Right now, I’m working on a project with the daughter of one of my producers at the Planet Jam Studios (in California). Her name is Maia Todorita aka Star Gurl Maia The Tode. We are trying to get her first reggae single released this winter,” he said.
The veteran artist did not disclose the song’s title but said it will be released through his Ruff Company Entertainment, which has been around since the late 1990s.
One of the label’s latest productions is the ‘Fever’, a ‘riddim’ with songs by General Smiley, Horace Martin, General Jah Mikey, Brano Ranks and Ken Serious.
Last year saw the release of ‘The Seal of My Soul’, his first book by Xlibris, a company based in Chicago.
Papa Michigan and General Smiley made an impressive debut in 1979 with ‘Rub-A-Dub Style’, produced by Clement Dodd for Studio One. That was followed by hits such as ‘Nice up The Dance’, ‘One Love Jam Down’ and ‘Diseases’.