Earl "Chinna" Smith: Difference between revisions
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In 2022 Earl Chinna Smith's InnadeYard Binghistra Movement, Surfing Medicine International 501(c)(3), and the Charles Town Maroons produced and released a benefit album online and as a limited edition vinyl LP printed by Third Man Pressing called: 'Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free' featuring [[Earl Chinna Smith]], [[Errol Flabba Holt]], [[Tyrone Downie]] and many other iconic Reggae artists and Maroon Drummers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reggae-vibes.com/news/2022/10/maroon-songs-born-free-live-free-ever-free/ |title=Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free|work=Reggae-vibes.com|access-date=2022-11-13|language=en}}</ref> |
In 2022 Earl Chinna Smith's InnadeYard Binghistra Movement, Surfing Medicine International 501(c)(3), and the Charles Town Maroons produced and released a benefit album online and as a limited edition vinyl LP printed by Third Man Pressing called: 'Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free' featuring [[Earl Chinna Smith]], [[Errol Flabba Holt]], [[Tyrone Downie]] and many other iconic Reggae artists and Maroon Drummers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reggae-vibes.com/news/2022/10/maroon-songs-born-free-live-free-ever-free/ |title=Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free|work=Reggae-vibes.com|access-date=2022-11-13|language=en}}</ref> |
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Musicians featured on Earl Chinna Smith's more recent InnadeYard Binghistra Movement song releases have played instruments on songs released by every [[Grammy]] Winning Reggae artist since 1985 (excluding [[SOJA]] and [[Koffee]]), yet none of these Binghistra instrumentalists have been awarded a Grammy award ever. |
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== Personal life == |
== Personal life == |
Revision as of 02:56, 14 November 2022
Earl Chinna Smith | |
---|---|
Birth name | Earl Smith |
Also known as | Chinna, Melchizedek |
Born | Kingston, Jamaica | 6 August 1955
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Genres | Reggae, Ska, Dub, Binghistra |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, Composer, Musician, Producer |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, Percussions, Singer |
Years active | 1968–present |
Labels | High Times, MakaSound, InnadeYard Binghistra Movement |
Website | https://binghistramovement.com/ |
Earl "Chinna" Smith (born 6 August 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica), a.k.a. Earl Flute and Melchizedek the High Priest,[1] is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late 1960s. He is most well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and as guitarist for Bob Marley & The Wailers and has recorded with many Reggae artists, appearing as guitarist and/or composer on songs featured on more than 500 albums with groups such as Soul Syndicate, The Aggrovators, The Upsetters, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Amy Winehouse, Burning Spear, Sly and Robbie, Lauryn Hill, Steel Pulse, Jimmy Cliff, etc.
Biography
Smith was born 6 August 1955, and raised by family friends in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston.[2] His father and godfather were both sound system owners, his father's, Smith's, operated by Bunny Lee.[2] Earl tried to emulate them using a toy sound system, leading to his nickname of "Tuner" (after a hi-fi amplifier), which was corrupted to "Chuner" and later "Chinna".[2] Smith became interested in guitar as a teenager and made his own from sardine cans and fishing line.[2] He formed a vocal group with his friend Earl Johnson (who later recorded as Earl Zero) and another youth, and they regularly sat in on sessions by the Soul Syndicate band.[2] Smith was taught the basics of guitar by the band's guitarist Cleon Douglas, and became so adept at playing the band's repertoire that he was asked to join the band when Douglas emigrated to the United States.[2]
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Smith was the guitarist in Bunny Lee's house band that became known as The Aggrovators.[3] Smith also played in Lee "Scratch" Perry's band The Upsetters.[4] He worked with Bob Marley & the Wailers in 1976, and later worked with Bob Marley's sons Julian and Ziggy, touring internationally with the latter and playing on his Conscious Party album.[3] He also recorded a few tracks under the pseudonym Earl Flute for producer Keith Hudson.
In 1986 Smith appeared as a member of Ernest Reed's (Jimmy Cliff) back-up band in the reggae-themed comedy Club Paradise.
In 1980, Smith launched his own High Times record label, releasing records by Soul Syndicate, Prince Alla, and Freddie McGregor, and also formed the High Times Players (which featured Augustus Pablo and Dean Fraser amongst others) who acted as backing band to Mutabaruka.[5] Smith also co-produced Mutabaruka's 1983 debut studio album Check It!. The dub version of the album, credited to Smith, was released in 2004.
In the 2000s he worked on a series of albums recorded in his yard in St. Andrew, featuring veteran musicians and singers including Cedric Myton, Linval Thompson, Junior Murvin, and Kiddus I, this Inna de Yard series released by the French label Makasound.[5][6] Two of these volumes feature Smith as lead musician, credited to "Earl Chinna Smith and Idrens", these released in 2008 and 2009.
In 2009, Smith recorded an instrumental version of The Heptones' album Heptones on Top as a tribute to the band, along with Lebert "Gibby" Morrison; They had worked on the album for more than ten years.[7]
As well as working with many of the top Jamaican artists, Smith also recorded with artists such as Lauryn Hill (on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) and Amy Winehouse (on Frank).[8]
In October 2013 it was announced that he was to be awarded a Silver Musgrave Medal later that month by the Institute of Jamaica.[9]
In 2017, Smith worked with the Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter and producer Emmanuel Anebsa on his EP Black People.[10]
In 2022 Earl Chinna Smith's InnadeYard Binghistra Movement, Surfing Medicine International 501(c)(3), and the Charles Town Maroons produced and released a benefit album online and as a limited edition vinyl LP printed by Third Man Pressing called: 'Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free' featuring Earl Chinna Smith, Errol Flabba Holt, Tyrone Downie and many other iconic Reggae artists and Maroon Drummers.[11]
Musicians featured on Earl Chinna Smith's more recent InnadeYard Binghistra Movement song releases have played instruments on songs released by every Grammy Winning Reggae artist since 1985 (excluding SOJA and Koffee), yet none of these Binghistra instrumentalists have been awarded a Grammy award ever.
Personal life
Smith's sons and daughters have followed him into a music career, with Jhamiela Smith (vocalist), Neosulann Smith (vocalist), Maria Smith (vocalist), Earl Smith Jr. (vocalist, Studio Engineer), JahJah (born Jahmai) (vocalist), and Ashea (born Itayi) a deejay.[12] and his beautiful last born, named from his stage name "Chinna" Chynnah Smith.
Solo album discography
- Sticky Fingers (1977), Third World
- Home Grown (1991), High Times
- Dub It! (2004), Nature Sounds
- Inna De Yard (2008), Makasound - Earl Chinna Smith & Idrens
- Inna De Yard vol. 2 (2009), Makasound - Earl Chinna Smith & Idrens
- Guitars On Top (2009), Grass Yard - with Lebert "Gibby" Morrison
Artist played with
- Ansel Collins
- Alpha Blondy
- Augustus Pablo
- The Abyssinians
- Bob Marley
- Big Youth
- Bim Sherman
- Bunny Wailer
- Charlie Hunter
- Cornell Campbell
- Delroy Wilson
- Ernest Ranglin
- The Ethiopians
- Garland Jeffreys
- Gregory Isaacs
- Hugh Mundell
- I-Roy
- Jacob Miller
- Keith Hudson
- Junior Byles
- Linval Thompson
- Max Romeo
- Jimmy Cliff
- Johnny Clarke
- Peter Tosh
- Dennis Brown
- Mutabaruka
- Scientist
- Lee Perry and The Upsetters
- King Tubby
- Freddie McGregor
- Michael Rose
- Mikey Dread
- The Paragons
- Prince Far I
- Ras Michael
- Revolutionaries
- Rita Marley
- Mighty Diamonds
- Black Uhuru
- Burning Spear
- Heptones
- Toots & The Maytals
- Sizzla
- Yabby You
- Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers
- Lauryn Hill
- Joss Stone
- Amy Winehouse
- Barry Ford
- Barbara Paige
- Dub Nation
Notes
- ^ Johnson, Richard (2013) "The Melchizedek way", Jamaica Observer, 6 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013
- ^ a b c d e f Katz, p. 116
- ^ a b Moskowitz, p. 274
- ^ Bradley, p. 326
- ^ a b Peter I
- ^ Campbell
- ^ Cooke
- ^ Johnson, Richard (2013) "The Melchizedek way", Jamaica Observer, 6 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013
- ^ "'Scratch' and 'Chinna' to get Musgrave Medals", Jamaica Observer, 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013
- ^ "Black People by Emmanuel Anebsa". United Reggae. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
- ^ "Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free". Reggae-vibes.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
- ^ Jackson, Kevin (2014) "Like father, like sons", Jamaica Observer, 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014
References
- Bradley, Lloyd (2000) This Is Reggae Music: The Story of Jamaica's Music, Grove Press, ISBN 0-8021-3828-4
- Campbell, Howard (2008) "Homage to the HEROES", Jamaica Gleaner, 22 July 2008, retrieved 6 December 2009
- Cooke, Mel (2009) "Instrumental tribute to a classic", Jamaica Gleaner, 17 February 2009, retrieved 6 December 2009
- Katz, David (2000) People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry, Payback Press, ISBN 0-86241-854-2
- Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8
- Peter I "High Priest of Reggae Guitar: Interview with Earl "Chinna" Smith", Reggae-Vibes.com, retrieved 6 December 2009
- Teacher "Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free", Reggae-Vibes.com, retrieved November 13, 2022
External links
- Official website
- Earl "Chinna" Smith at Roots Archives