Papa Michigan

Papa Michigan

Also known as: Michigan

Michigan and Smiley are a Jamaican reggae/dancehall duo consisting of Papa Michigan (born Anthony Fairclough) and General Smiley (born Erroll Bennett). They rose to popularity during the first wave of dancehall music in the late 1970s.

Career
The duo of Michigan (Anthony Fairclough) and Smiley recorded at Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One in Jamaica, pressing their first number one hit single, "Rub a Dub Style", which featured their call and response style vocals, overdubbed on the Studio One riddim, "Vanity" (the instrumental alias given to Alton Ellis' Rocksteady classic, "I'm Just A Guy"). Their next single, perhaps a larger hit, "Nice Up the Dance" was a version of the quintessential Studio 1 rhythm, "Real Rock". These singles, with four other tracks, also versions of Studio One rhythms, were released as their first album, Nice Up the Dance. The names of these two singles were quickly incorporated into the lexicon of dancehall phraseology. Their call and response style was likewise influential on the future developments of the music, blending together straightforward singing styles and toasting. By 1982, they caught the attention of Henry "Junjo" Lawes, who recorded their biggest hit, "Diseases" over the "Mad Mad" riddim. This track was featured on their second LP, Downpression. They went on to cut an album for Channel One Records, Step by Step. The last of their hit records was "Sugar Daddy", pressed on RAS Records, which featured yet another reworking of "Mad Mad". Michigan & Smiley recorded a version of Suzanne Vega's hit single "Tom's Diner" that is included on the compilation album Tom's Album. The duo continue to record and make appearances at festivals and have both released solo recordings. Michigan is set to release the album DJ Legend, to be preceded in September 2014 by an EP of the same name.

Discography (5)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Rub A Dub Style Michigan & Smiley Rub A Dub Style SOL 1138 LP Studio 1 1979 1979
Downpression Papa Michigan & General Smiley Downpression GRELCD 42 CD Greensleeves 1982
Step By Step Michigan & Smiley Step By Step JJ 081 LP Hitbound 1982 1982
Sugar Daddy Michigan & Smiley Sugar Daddy RAS 3004 LP RAS 1983 1983
Live At Reggae Sunsplash Eek A Mouse & Michigan & Smiley Live At Reggae Sunsplash VSLP 8906 LP Sunsplash 1984 1983

Credits & Appearances (5)

Musicians
Vocals 5
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Rub A Dub Style Michigan & Smiley Rub A Dub Style SOL 1138 LP Studio 1 1979 1979
Step By Step Michigan & Smiley Step By Step JJ 081 LP Hitbound 1982 1982
Downpression Papa Michigan & General Smiley Downpression GREL 42 LP Greensleeves 1982 1982
Sugar Daddy Michigan & Smiley Sugar Daddy RAS 3004 LP RAS 1983 1983
Live At Reggae Sunsplash Eek A Mouse & Michigan & Smiley Live At Reggae Sunsplash VSLP 8906 LP Sunsplash 1984 1983

Also Appears On (32)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
All On The Same Rhythm Various Artists All On The Same Rhythm RAS 9002 LP RAS
Champion D.Js From Studio 1 Various Artists Champion D.Js From Studio 1 SOCD 50151 CD Studio 1
Dancehall Session Various Artists Dancehall Session RAS 9001 CD RAS
Down Beat Special Various Artists Down Beat Special SJRCD 548 CD Soul Jazz 2024
Nice Up The Dance Various Artists Nice Up The Dance CDHB 165 CD Heartbeat 2001
Respect To Studio 1 Various Artists Respect To Studio 1 CDHB 182 CD Heartbeat 1994
Studio One Classics Various Artists Studio One Classics SJRCD 096 CD Soul Jazz 2004
Studio One Rockers Various Artists Studio One Rockers SJRCD 048 CD Soul Jazz 2001
Studio One Story Various Artists Studio One Story SJRCD 068 CD Soul Jazz 2002
The Best Of Studio One Collection Various Artists The Best Of Studio One Collection CDHB 326 CD Heartbeat 2006
Tougher Than Tough Various Artists Tougher Than Tough IBXCD 1 CD Island 1958-93 1993
The Legendary Studio One Records Various Artists The Legendary Studio One Records SJRCD 248 CD Soul Jazz 1963-80 2017
When Rhythm Was King Various Artists When Rhythm Was King CDHB 330 CD Heartbeat 1966-79 2007
Trojan Christmas Box Set Various Artists Trojan Christmas Box Set TJETD 142 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2003
Trojan Reggae For Kids Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae For Kids Box Set TJETD 262 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2005
The DJ's Reggae Greats Various Artists The DJ's Reggae Greats IRG 4 LP Island 1972-84 1985
Forward Various Artists Forward GREL 60 LP Greensleeves 1977-82
The Biggest Dancehall Anthems Various Artists The Biggest Dancehall Anthems GREZCD 4101 CD Greensleeves 1979-82 2002
Greensleeves 12'' Rulers Various Artists Greensleeves 12'' Rulers GRELCD 608 CD Greensleeves 1979-83 2007
Studio One Rub-A-Dub Various Artists Studio One Rub-A-Dub SJRCD 154 CD Soul Jazz 197X 2007
Studio One DJ Party Various Artists Studio One DJ Party SJRCD 445 CD Soul Jazz 197X-8X 2019
Studio One Supreme Various Artists Studio One Supreme SJRCD 396 CD Soul Jazz 197X-8X 2017
Clarks In Jamaica Various Artists Clarks In Jamaica VPGS 7034 CD Greensleeves 197X-9X 2015
Volcano Eruption Henry Junjo Lawes Volcano Eruption VPCD 4162 CD 17 North Parade 1981-85 2010
A Dee-Jay Explosion Various Artists A Dee-Jay Explosion CDHB 04 CD Heartbeat 1982
Reggae Hits Of The 80's Various Artists Reggae Hits Of The 80's JGML 6059 LP Joe Gibbs 1982 1982
Best Of Studio 1 Various Artists Best Of Studio 1 HB 07 LP Heartbeat 1983 1983
Best Of Studio 1 Various Artists Best Of Studio 1 CDHB 301 CD Heartbeat 1983 2006
Sunsplash Live Various Artists Sunsplash Live none LP 56 Hope Rd. 1983 1983
Dancehall Various Artists Dancehall SJRCD 196 CD Soul Jazz 198X 2008
Total Recall - Volcano Vol 2 Various Artists Total Recall - Volcano Vol 2 VPCD 1190 CD VP 198X 1992
Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set TJETD 152 CD Trojan 198X-9X 2004
5 albums
5 credits
5 labels
1979 - 1984