Interview by Tommy Screwface.
Amid a flurry of anticipation for the long awaited return of REEEWIND in Jamaica, New York, Papa Michigan of the iconic reggae duo Michigan and Smiley discussed a bit about his amazing history in music.
What year and how did the duo form?
Michigan and Smiley came together in 1978. We were living in the same community called Union Garden. That is in Kingston 13. We started to deejay (rap) on a soundsystem called Third World. Then, we left Third World and played for another soundsystem called Black Harmony. The owner of Black Harmony took us to Sir Coxsone Dodd (the owner of the record label, “Studio One”) and that’s how we recorded the first album called “Rub-a-Dub” style.
When you went to Mr. Dodd at Studio One, did he hear you on the soundsystem, did you auditioned or did the owner just bring you there?
The owner took us there and said “just voice them youths, there.” No audition, just voice the tunes. We picked all the rhythms on the album. Mr. Dodd never heard of us before.
The “Rub-a-Dub Style” album was released around 1979. During those days, I noticed there were not too many deejay duos recording albums. Was Michigan and Smiley the first deejay duo to record an album?
That’s true, there weren’t many duos. Clint Eastwood and General Saint were some the same era, but came and formed after us musically. Eastwood was there, but; I did not know about General Saint. I’m definitely sure about Eastwood, because guys like Trinity and all of those guys were there…
But those guys never formed a duo… like Michigan and Smiley formed one.
Nah.
In 1980, “One Love Jamdown” was recorded on the 56 Hope Road label that was distributed by Tuff Gong. How did the song get released on a label that was owned by Bob Marley?
We were the first deejays to record at Tuff Gong. The song became number one for about 3 months and eventually became song of the year. The song of the year previously was “Nice Up the Dance,” which was on the “Rub-a-Dub” style album. Actually, the song was written by manager Jahnet Enwright.
In 1982, Michigan and Smiley released “Diseases” on the Mad Mad rhythm. If I am not mistaken, the rhythm is similar to Alton Ellis’s song “Mad, Mad, Mad.”
Yeah, I heard people keep call it the Mad Mad riddim. But, that is not what we called it originally. We have more than one name for it. Some of us called it the Johnny Dollar rhythm. A producer, based in New York City, by the name of Tanka made the rhythm. So I really don’t know about the Mad Mad.
The tune “Diseases” crossed over into the Hip Hop market a couple years later, specifically in New York. Eventually some dancehall reggae started to receive attention from the major record labels in the United States?
In a way, because; all Black Americans know us because of “Diseases.” We got the attention somehow. I was flying into California (solo) and Richie (Richard Daley, the bassist from Third World) stated that Stevie Wonder wanted to speak to him because Stevie Wonder loved the song “Diseases.” “I’m saying WOW, because; the song is crossing borders.”
Did the major labels “knock on your door” like Yellowman had an album on CBS/Columbia (now a subsidiary under Sony Music Entertainment) and Lieutenant Stitchie had a few on Atlantic records?
You know what, Island Records came to us and took “One Love Jamdown.” I thought things were going to happen, but; they took it and shelved it.
One of the last songs that I remember Michigan and Smiley recorded as a duo was “Stress,” which was recorded around 1993 on the “Pepperseed” rhythm. After that, I saw solo projects from Papa Michigan and General Smiley. Why did the duo break up?
Prior to “Stress,” we had a single called “Tom’s Diner” that was produced by Donovan Germain. Stress was from a friend, Lloyd Campbell, in New York that has a record label called “Joe Fraser.”
Smiley was living here in the states, whereas; I was living in Jamaica. That is why there were solo projects. “I have five albums, to date; which are doing great.” Smiley also has an album and does his thing.
Earlier in the interview, you stated that you and Smiley started on a soundsystem. In this day and age, would Michigan and Smiley perform on a soundsystem?
(Straight laughter!) “That’s a very good question.” Recently, I was in Mexico and thought I’m going to perform with a band. I reached Mexico and they had a soundsystem and it was set up, like the original days, on the stage and you have the microphone. That is what they wanted in Mexico City, the original foundation.
How do you feel about dubplates?
Many sounds ask for dubplates, I just don’t do it dirt free. There’s a price for it because, this is a business.
For the people who may not have heard or kept up with Michigan and Smiley, what is your Facebook, Twitter, and all that good stuff?
We stay contemporary, up to the time.
https://twitter.com/generalsmiley
https://twitter.com/michigannsmiley
https://www.facebook.com/papamichigan
An impressive list of reggae stars including King Yellowman, Josey Wales, Luciano and others is slated for REEEWIND, a spectacular event celebrating Rub a Dub culture taking place at Amazura Concert Hall in Jamaica, New York on November 9th.
Story/ Interview by Tommy Screwface
Michigan and Smiley’s classic album can also be purchased on CD Universe.
Special thanks to Flair Lindsey for her assistance in this interview.
