Leroy Smart

Leroy Smart (born 1952) is a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, and record producer from Kingston whose career spans more than five decades. Orphaned at the age of two, he was raised at Maxfield Park Children’s Home and educated at the Alpha Boys School, where he learned singing, drumming, and dance. His early musical training laid a strong foundation for a career that would later make him one of reggae’s most distinctive voices. He began recording in the late 1960s, releasing his first single, “It Pains Me,” in 1969. In the early 1970s, Smart worked with leading producers such as Joe Gibbs, Gussie Clarke, and Bunny Lee, recording influential songs including “Ethiopia,” “God Helps The Man,” and the early version of “Pride & Ambition.” His major breakthrough came in 1973 with “Mother Liza,” which topped the Jamaican singles chart and established him as a leading figure in roots reggae. By the mid-1970s, he had scored further success with tracks like “Ballistic Affair” and began producing his own music. Over the years, Leroy Smart has released more than 35 albums and remains respected for both his longevity and his bold, colorful personality. He appeared in the classic reggae film Rockers and became part of reggae’s wider cultural influence, even being referenced in The Clash’s 1978 song “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais.” Today, Smart is remembered as a resilient and influential artist whose music and character have left a lasting mark on Jamaican reggae history.