Ernie Smith has passed away
The post Ernie Smith has passed away appeared first on Reggae Vibes.
Black News 
Ernie Smith has passed away
Sad news for the reggae community. Jamaican veteran singer, guitarist and songwriter Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith, who’s better known to his fans and peers as Ernie Smith, has passed away on April 16, 2026, in Florida after cardiac issues. He was just shy of turning 81.
Ernie wasn’t just another name in the credits. Born in Kingston and raised in St. Ann, Ernie’s story starts simple: his father hands him a guitar at 12, and from there, he never really put it down. He sharpened his skills playing with a local band called The Vandals, but life had its own timing. He actually landed his first recording, I Can’t Take It, while auditioning for a radio job. Not exactly the usual path.
By the early ’70s, Ernie was in full stride. Tunes like Bend Down, Ride On Sammy, and One Dream started making noise. But it was Pitta Patta that took it to another level. That tune hit number one in Jamaica in 1973 and even took “Song of the Year” from Swing magazine. Then came Duppy Or A Gunman followed by Life Is Just for Living, which started as a Red Stripe commercial tune and grew into an international favorite, even catching on in Japan.
But like many artists from that era, Ernie faced real challenges. In 1976, his album The Power And The Glory was banned during a politically charged time. Threats followed, and he had to leave Jamaica. Toronto became his base for a while, where he recorded the albums To Behold Jah and Skareggae.
By 1981, he settled in Fort Lauderdale, closer to family and looking for a reset. That period brought new energy, especially working with Bob Marley’s mother Cedella Booker. Together they put out songs like No Tribulation and Let The Children Play, showing Ernie still had plenty to say.
After Hurricane Gilbert in the late ’80s, he returned to Jamaica and stepped back into the scene with fresh fire, performing with The New Agenda band. Then in 1996, he gave fans Dancehall Ernie Cleans It Up, revisiting his catalog with a modern touch.
And even into the 2000s, he kept going. His final album, Country Mile in 2008, brought together younger and older voices, bridging generations in a way that felt natural.
Ernie Smith’s music always felt honest. Thoughtful, sometimes playful, always grounded. And if you know those songs, you know that kind of music won’t fade, even if the artist is no longer with us.
Gone but never forgotten. Rest in power!
The Best Of Ernie Smith
The post Ernie Smith has passed away appeared first on Reggae Vibes.
