Michigan performing at Rebel Salute in January. - FILE
BACK IN the 1970s, the fabled Studio One made a comeback thanks to a new slate of acts that rocked the dancehall. They included singers Freddie McGregor, Sugar Minott and a deejay duo named Papa Michigan and General Smiley.
The latter got out of the blocks quickly, hitting local charts with Rub a Dub Style in 1978 and followed-up the next year with Nice Up The Dance.
More hits, like One Love Jamdown and Diseases would come, but by the late 1980s their run on the hit parade ended.
PRODUCER
Michigan (real name Anthony Fairclough) is still doing the music rounds, as producer, distributor and performer. He recently released Miss You, a self-produced song for his Rashanco label and hopes it will revive his career as a performer.
"This song ya need fi launch Michigan an' not Michigan an' Smiley," the lanky Michigan told The Gleaner recently. "This song ya now is a song fi show dat Michigan still have it."
Michigan says Miss You was inspired by a failed relationship. He cut it in February with bass player Chris Meredith (ex-Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers) helping out.
HIP ENOUGH FOR THE YOUTHS
"Is a new rhythm, is not dancehall, but the people can swing to it," he said. Although in his mid-40s, Michigan says he is hip enough to get the youth listening.
"Mi know wha' dem want 'cause mi a produce dem. Me inna the belly a the music," he said.
While Michigan has not been prolific behind the microphone in recent years, he has done his share of production. Big-name acts such as Luciano, George Nooks, Glen Washington and Jah Mason have recorded for Rashanco but the label has yet to score a big hit.
Michigan and Smiley (given name Errol Bennett) had no such problem in their heyday. Rub a Dub Style, Nice Up The Dance, One Love Jamdown (produced by Janet Enwright) and Diseases (by Henry 'Junjo' Lawes) all went to number one.
Michigan is originally from Allman Town but grew up in Harbour View. He was goalkeeper for the star-studded Tivoli Comprehensive Manning Cup teams of 1977 and 1978 but moonlighted as a deejay on sound systems like Black Harmony and Echo Tone.
FORTUNE AND FAME
The computer-driven Diseases was the biggest hit for Michigan and Smiley but although they performed regularly overseas, Michigan points out that fortune did not come along with fame.
"Monetary-wise nothing neva gwaan but wi had a name. Up to this day I don't earn a cent from Diseases," he said.
The duo perform intermittently (the last time on Rebel Salute in January) but recording new material is difficult as Smiley resides in Arizona.
For now, Michigan is going the solo route with Miss You which he hopes will give Rashanco its first major hit, and see him returning to the charts 28 years after his first appearance.
- H.C.
