Catch Lloyd Brown on The Smiley Variety Show This Sunday

Don’t miss Lloyd Brown on The Smiley Variety Show This Sunday 4pm-6pm

Over the course of the past two and a half decades, Lloyd Brown has risen to the very pinnacle of
his profession, and with a string of hit singles and critically acclaimed albums to his credit, is
now hailed as one of this country’s best ever reggae singer/songwriters. Born and raised in
London to Jamaican parents, he began his career in 1979 by dee-jaying in “blues-dances” before
progressing on fully fledged sound-systems in the early eighties with London-based soundsystems
Marcus, Exodus and East Man.

After taking a sabbatical in Jamaica, he then joined vocal harmony group Sweet Distortion, who
were voted Best Reggae Newcomers by the readers of Black Echoes in 1984, just prior to their
guest appearance on the BRAFA (British Reggae Artists Famine Appeal) single, Let’s Make
Africa Green Again. Led by Lloyd’s namesake and early source of musical inspiration, Dennis
Brown, this record helped raised funds for Ethiopian famine victims, and remains a milestone of
UK reggae history. By 1987 Sweet Distortion had successfully auditioned for the part of the
Jackson Five in the acclaimed British musical, Black Heroes In The Hall Of Fame, but split up
soon afterwards, leaving Lloyd free to pursue a solo career.

Despite his success with other people’s songs, Lloyd was increasingly writing his own material
by this time, as demonstrated on It’s A Love Thing, which marked the start of his long-standing
partnership with dee-jay Tippa Irie. Their follow-up smash hit, Stress, caused controversy since
it put into song what many men were thinking about their female partners, but both singles duly
topped the UK reggae charts, then won the duo a well deserved contract with Arista, who
released their follow-up single, Baby Mother (another vibrant slice of social commentary), in
1995. An album recorded for Arista during this period was subsequently released as
Combination on Discotex at the end of 2001 – Lloyd & Tippa’s association with Arista having
ended as unexpectedly as it had begun.

Undaunted by such disappointments and eager to reclaim his popularity among grassroots reggae
fans, Lloyd began recording with leading UK lovers’ rock producers Groove And & Quarter,
who issued his debut album, Straight No Chaser, in 1996. Among the many highlights was A Mother’s Prayer, which he recorded with a veritable Who’s Who of UK soul and reggae talent and dedicated to the memory of his mother, who’d recently died of cancer. Two other tracks, Jah Works and Increase The Peace, offered early evidence of the roots and culture content he was to showcase on his next set, Rhyme & Reason, which he recorded for Saxon. Prior to its release in 1998, the singles Need A Revolution and Power Of Jah had marked a turning point in both his life and career. His new head of dreadlocks illustrated this change of direction, and he began writing lyrics with far more spiritual content than before, even whilst continuing to make sublime lovers rock hits such as Night Shift, Blackbird and Real Love. He named Buju’s ‘Til Shiloh LP as a formative influence during this stage of his career, and after announcing that the emergence of the new cultural artists had taken reggae to a different plane, said he wanted to sing songs that will uplift people. His Saxon album thus had transformation at its artistic core, and with its emphasis on self-penned material, proved a masterly showcase of his talents.

Not being a man to rest on his laurels….Lloyd has completed his thirteenth album entitled “For Your Consideration” which is released through RiddimWorks/Cousins Records and out now.

BANG’s Smiley Variety @ Rototom Sunsplash the biggest European Reggae Festival

Hello everyone! Yes, I’m back… I’ve finally recovered after my trip to the biggest reggae festival in Europe. This was the 16th year for Rototom Sunsplash, a place where reggae lovers from all over Europe can come together in love and unity, something that you have to experience at least once in your life if you are into reggae!!

The Rototom Sunsplash Festival is held in the Rivelllino park in Osoppo, near Udine, in north-eastern Italy every year in July.

The venue is a beautiful, natural park over 240,000 square meters of woodland and meadows extend at the foot of an overhanging cliff, where there is a fortress dating back to the 19th century.

I’ve had the amazing pleasure to meet Bunny Wailer - the last living Wailer.

He is such a pleasant, peaceful character, very spiritual, we had a lovely conversation before he went on stage. He donated half of his perfomance fee to help the victims of the Italian Earthquake. That’s how nice he is!

I’ve also met Horace Andy - do you remember Rock You to Sleep and also Sky Larking? Back from Studio 1 in the Fifties… he was one of the coolest people you can meet in the industry, so friendly!

People where queuing to meet him and he was doing special dubplates for everyone. He said he loved Rototom, second time for him, and loved the Italian people who love him back!

Every day there is a vast array of activities, debates, meetings on reggae music and rasta culture, films and documentaries.

During the daytime, those who do not attend the various debates and workshops can sunbathe, play frisbee or football, read, rest, or simply wander around the village. Bars and restaurants are open all day and night.

When the sun goes down, the lights on the main stage turn on and top artists and bands from Jamaica, Africa and Europe go on stage to deliver unforgettable performances this year on stage where poeple like Buju Banton, Capleton, Bunny Wailer, Alborosie, Horace Andy, Junior Kelly, Beenie Man, just to name a few.

When the show finally comes  a close at around 1am in the morning, everybody moves to the dancehall tent where international sound systems like Stonelove, Bass Odyssey, One Love, Shashamane Int, play until dawn. That’s almost two weeks in reggae heaven!

Italian lover General Levy was there too with Super C and Papa Face (David Rodigan’s right hand man) from Dub Vendors in Clapham junction. Those guys, really, they gave me proper jokes!

Let me tell you, it was quite an experience - I’ll definitely be back next year!

Presenter Focus: Smiley Variety

Smiley Variety is a veteran in the game with over 25 years experience and playing a wide range of music including Pop, Rock & Roll, 80’s Soul, Rare Groove, RnB, Hip Hop, Reggae and Soca.

Smiley started DJ-ing in 1985 at parties and weddings, where he served his apprenticeship. In 1990 he was given his first radio break by a local pirate radio station. He quickly developed a love for ‘Communty Radio’ (as it is affectionately known nowadays) and then moved on to Irie FM, Sky FM, Beat FM, and finally Roots FM before taking the giant step to BANG Radio.

Smiley has interviewed UK and international artists such as Don Campbell, Lloyd Brown, Micheal Gordon, Shaggy, Jimmy Cliff and so many more. He has also introduced A-List artists like Buju Banton and Burning Flames on stage in front of audiences in sold out venues across the country.

Smiley has held residency spots in clubs all over the country, including All Nations Club, Knight Moves, Diamonds, and Masters Wine Bar. Not stopping at that, Smiley has also run a very successful promotion business, Close Encounters for over 10 years.

We’re very proud to have Smiley Variety as part of our Easy Sundays line-up at 4pm, every Sunday.