Smiley Culture life and biography

David Victor Emmanuel (born 1962), better known as Smiley Culture, was an English reggae singer and deejay known for his fast chat style. During a relatively brief period of fame and success, he produced two of the most critically acclaimed reggae singles of the 1980s.

A satirical view of British society has been set to uplifting reggae rhythms by London-born vocalist and songwriter, Smiley Culture . His best-selling single, Cockney Translations, poked fun at the dialect of England's working class, while, his unique view of London's security force was explored in his British top-twenty hit, Police Officer. The son of a Jamaican father and a South American mother, Culture acquired his nickname for his method of "picking up" girls by asking them to smile. Learning his trade with a series of London-based sound systems, Culture became a star after joining the Saxon Sound System, which also featured Maxi Priest. The first reggae DJ on BBC's #Top of the Pops, he later hosted a Channel Four television show, #Club Mix. Culture has continued to broaden his musical palette. He performed a vocal interpretation of Miles Davis' So What in the film Absolute Beginners and has collaborated with American hip-hop artists.

He died on 15 March 2011, aged 48, following a police raid on his home.

Albums:
Tongue in Cheek (1986), Polydor
The Original Smiley Culture (1986), Top Notch

Singles:
"Cockney Translation" (1984)
"Police Officer" (1984)
"Cockney Translation" (re-issue) (1985)
"Schooltime Chronicle" (1986)
"Mr. Kidnapper" (1986)
"So What" (1986)
"Noff Personality" (1986)
"Can't Stop the Rap" (1990)

Listen here to Smiley Culture's 'Police Officer' single:

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