Biography
Born in South London as David Emmanuel, vocalist and songwriter Smiley Culture delivered satirical commentary on British society through upbeat reggae grooves. His chart-topping single "Cockney Translations" lampooned the speech patterns of England's working class, while the British Top 20 hit "Police Officer" presented his singular take on the capital's constabulary. Culture, whose father hailed from Jamaica and mother from South America, earned the nickname through his practice of approaching women with a request to smile. After sharpening his craft across multiple London sound systems, he achieved stardom by linking with the Saxon Sound System that also included Maxi Priest. The first reggae DJ to appear on BBC's Top of the Pops, he went on to host the Channel Four program Club Mix. Culture later expanded his sonic range by supplying vocals for a version of Miles Davis' "So What" in the film Absolute Beginners and by teaming with American hip-hop artists. Smiley Culture died at age 48 on March 15, 2011, after receiving a fatal stab wound during an armed police raid on his Warlingham, Surrey home conducted under an arrest warrant.
Albums