Forums >
The Back Room >
The great Ernie Smith died yesterday
The great Ernie Smith died yesterday
Fri, Apr 17, '26 at 6:21 PM
debut: Nov 13, '02
20,200 runs
CWW
Did not 😄😅 and could not 😅
Fri, Apr 17, '26 at 10:11 PM
I've been sad since Wednesday when my brother texted that Ernie was on ICU with not great prospects. in '89 our Past Student Association was dying and couple of us acted to resurrect it. One school mate with a St. Ann connection to Ernie asked him to play at our banquet. The humble giant played for free literally. A great singer/songwriter. Walk Good Ernie, join Johnny Nash and play guitar while he covers your "Tears On My Pillow' your big chune which Johnny covered.
Fri, Apr 17, '26 at 10:23 PM
@Brerzerk
By the way Jah Kingdom and Rebel Music were instrumental in Ernie being hounded out of Yard during Joshua's term funnily Max Romeo who.sang No Joshua No wasn't bothered by anyone.
Fri, Apr 17, '26 at 11:19 PM
@Brerzerk
His song Brown Sugar could also have rubbed some people the wrong way.
Sat, Apr 18, '26 at 2:04 AM
debut: Dec 14, '02
7,750 runs
@Chrissy
I only learned yesterday (Friday) morning that Ernie had taken his final step. Gosh, that is really sad news. He, more than any other Jamaican artiste would have characterised my Kingston days (right after graduating h.s.). Plus it was perhaps no more that 1½ years ago that I went to see him perform here in Hartford. Will now have to cherish that performance and our little chat even more. Walk good, Mrs Smith's eldest son. Me gwine miss yuh.
@CWW
...Ernie won World Song competition in Japan with "Life Is Just for Living". Remember the Red Stripe commercial, it was based on this song...
See't yah, sah. I appear for a few seconds in it too. With the camera panning to the right I come into view at 1:38 (to about 1:40) and then again, going the other way, from 1:42 to about 1:45. Those were good days.
--Æ.
Sat, Apr 18, '26 at 11:38 AM
debut: Jan 12, '07
44,597 runs
@Chrissy
Amazing thread paying tribute to a legend.