The music business is tougher now, says Ernie Smith; Sparrow, Smith lauded as two with a living legacy by CCRP

Glenroy 'Ernie' Smith embraced the notion that there is insufficient content in the lyrics of music in contemporary Jamaican society, "The songs are filled with words but lack meaning" he said.

Smith was speaking to The Gleaner after receiving an award at the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons Limited (CCRP) Jamaica 50 Living Legacy Awards. The ceremony was to honour Jamaicans who contributed invaluable service to the island since Independence 50 years ago.

Winston 'Sparrow' Martin, OD, was also among the 62 honourees on the day. He, along with Smith, was the only two musicians on the list.

Ernie Smith is a pioneer who has brought reggae to the global mainstream and has written over 200 songs with several of them recorded by other world-class artistes. After 45 years of thrilling music worldwide, he can now be called a serial hit maker who defines the Jamaican experience with his music. Smith is often regarded as Jamaica's premier solo act. He is also the first Jamaican in the popular music field to win an international award and to be honoured by the Jamaican Government.

For him, contemporary Jamaican music is headed in a different direction.

"There are probably better writers out there that are not being heard than those who are being heard. There are probably as many talented people not being heard as untalented people being heard. Talent alone will not get you there in today's society, you have to be in the right place at the right time," Smith added.

This may be due to the vast amount of people interested in music as a career. He says music from his generation was done more like a hobby, nowadays more people perceive it as a full-time job. While on the face of it that should be a good thing, according to Smith, the competition from so many persons taking music as their choice of career poses a problem.

"It is harder now because there are a lot more people with the energy but nothing to do with it," Smith said.

As for the artistes struggling to get on the scene, he emphasises on persistence as being key.

"There will always be young people having words with content, they need to be persistent, however. I don't even know how I got out there, it took me three years to get Bend Down, my first song, out there in 1970, and it wasn't until 1975, however, that Johnny Nash went and made Tears On My Pillow my first hit."

"As for talent and great voices, I must say Romain Virgo is one of the young people right now that actually has something to say and has caught my eye. I also like Etana and Tanya Stephens, to name a few," he added.