Music producer and singer Leon 'Bachelor' Smillie is committed to keeping the musical legacy of his father, Cleveland 'Jah Hammed' Smillie, alive. "My father was a peaceful and loving man; he was respected by everyone who knew him. Influenced by his Rastafarian faith, he was a beacon of hope for everyone in the community of Brownsville.
During the '80s and '90s, this community was one of the toughest places to live in Brooklyn. Even today, many people are still fearful of living there," said Smillie. In the late 1960s, the elder Smillie relocated from St Thomas to Brooklyn.
He was a member of the Outer Limits Band, but after 10 years with the group, he went solo and scored a hit in 1977 with a single, Ordinary Natty . Some of his other songs are Finding My Way , The Ghetto and Still Waters . He passed away in New York in 2021.
"I am determined to keep my father's legacy alive, because he dedicated his life to taking care of his family and making a positive impact on the world by making uplifting reggae music. Since his passing, I've released several singles for him. I also plan to release more of his unreleased songs, as well as some of the ones I've remixed and remastered," said Smillie.
He said that despite having a doctorate in business administration and a corporate job, he was inspired to get into the music business by his father. "When I was a child, my father would take me to his rehearsals and recording sessions. At first, I wanted to play the drums, but my father int.