LONG before social media and aggressive publicists, dancehall artistes like Don Angelo worked the sound system circuit to expose his music.
After 38 years in the business, the singer has scored a number one song with the self-produced Rich Life done for his Shimeeka label.
It topped this week’s Foundation Radio Network Top 30 Music Chart, a popular table among reggae artistes/producers.
“Is the best feeling mi get from mi a sing. When mi voice a song mi neva know if it a go hit, but once mi si how the people react to it inna the dance, mi know it have staying power,” Don Angelo told Splash from his home in Brooklyn, New York.
“It tek a likkle while fi it jump off, but it get a lotta love an’ tings can only get better,” he said.
Don Angelo, who has lived in New York since 1996, is from the Kencot area of Kingston. He is the father of flamboyant deejay Ishawna.
Ishawna
Since moving to the United States, he has recorded countless songs for different producers, including deejay Super Cat. Several of them are ‘combinations’ with acts like Baby Wayne (Ebony Eyes) and Jah Mason (No Limit).
Don Angelo seemed destined for a music career. He was born Donovan Smith in 1962 at Bond Street, the West Kingston location of Treasure Isle studio, run by legendary producer Duke Reid.
Growing up in Kencot, he started singing on sound systems like Slygo alongside other budding singers Hopeton Lindo, Everton Blender and Troy Wonder.
His first song, the Prince Far I-produced Righteous Man, was released in 1977. Other early singles included Never Live in War and You Girl for Sugar Minott; and Don’t Move A Muscle and Love Feeling, produced by Lloyd ‘King Jammys’ James.
King Jammy
Much of Don Angelo’s career in Jamaica was with James’ sound system. A regular visitor to the producer’s Waterhouse studio was Ishawna, whose first recordings were done there.
She is currently one of the hottest names in dancehall. Her spicy private life has made her a tabloid darling, which Don Angelo admits worries him.
“When mi hear some of the things ‘bout har, mi try nuh listen…the less yuh know the better. But mi know she can handle har ting di right way,” he said.
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