RAS-1

Richard Arthur Smith, professionally known as RAS-1, is an American guitarist and singer from North Long Beach, California, best known for his role in the Southern California reggae-punk scene. He was a founding member of both Long Beach Dub Allstars and Long Beach Shortbus, working closely with former Sublime members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh. His contributions helped carry forward the musical legacy that emerged from the Long Beach ska, reggae, and alternative fusion movement of the 1990s. Raised in a musical household—his mother Dora Gail Smith was a jazz singer—RAS-1 became involved in music at a young age. As a teenager, he played in a psychedelic rock band called The Griffin before moving into reggae with the group Jah Children, which frequently performed at local backyard shows and occasionally opened for Sublime. He later played with the band All Day, further embedding himself in the Southern California punk and reggae crossover scene. In 1997, he joined the newly formed Long Beach Dub Allstars, contributing to albums such as Right Back (1999) and Wonders of the World (2001). After the breakup of Long Beach Dub Allstars in 2002, RAS-1 co-founded Long Beach Shortbus with Eric Wilson, continuing until the band split in 2007. Though he did not participate in later reunions of the Dub Allstars, he remained active musically. In the 2020s, he returned with new collaborations and solo work, releasing his self-titled EP Ras-1 in 2023 on Fat Mike’s Bottles To The Ground label. His career reflects a steady influence on West Coast reggae-rock, blending punk energy with reggae rhythms across decades.