In late 1984 he was directly involved in what is considered by many to be a pivotal phase in the Jamaican recording industry. The occasion of Smith's and Noel Daley's tinkerings with a Casio music box has been well documented, although the unprecedented success of this event proved to be a turning point for both Smith and King Jammy. The resulting song, "Under Me Sleng Teng", was a massive hit around the world and led to countless versions. From its initial release in 1985 the rhythm continues to provide the basis for a number of reggae hits. Having the distinction of introducing the most covered accentuation in the music's history inevitably led to enormous expectations, which Smith endured with calm assurance. He demonstrated his talent for songwriting and singing, and drew on his formative training for programming on Sleng Teng with the tracks "Icky All Over", "Love Don't Love Me" and "Walk Like A Granny". He continued to produce hits, notably "Rapid Dem Love" and "My Sweet Love", before relocating to the USA where he set up his own Sleng Teng label. |