Smile Jamaica Concert

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Lore & Background

Tensions were high in Jamaica between supporters of Prime Minister Michael Manley's PNP and the opposition JLP, leading to a state of emergency by June. The Ministry of Culture planned this free concert to defuse tensions, inviting Marley who had previously played the 1975 Wonder Dream Concert. Although Marley declared himself politically neutral, the JLP viewed his participation as an endorsement of the PNP, especially after Manley moved the election date forward to 15 December to Marley's chagrin. During rehearsals at his home studio, Marley and others were shot by assailants suspected to have links to a JLP-affiliated drug gang; several suspects were arrested and later released. Despite the violence, over two hundred people filled the stage, many acting as a human shield for Marley, while Robbie Shakespeare stepped in for bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett, who had gone into hiding.

In Their Own Story

The emcee Elaine Wint introduced the bill which included Third World, Ras Michael, Kiddus I, Richard Ace, and Bunny Rugs. An unreleased film of the event was captured by Carl Colby. When Marley arrived at National Heroes Park, the crowd remained anxious until he took the stage. Unable to play guitar due to his injured arm, Marley focused entirely on singing for 90 minutes. At one poignant moment, he rolled up his sleeve to display his wound, declaring, "Bang bang, I'm OK." The I Threes provided backing vocals, with Rita Marley still wearing the hospital gown she had been discharged in just hours earlier. The horn section from Zap Pow and five hand drummers from the Sons of Negus joined the ensemble. Prime Minister Manley appeared on stage briefly before retreating to watch the performance from the roof of a van. The setlist featured "War" / "No More Trouble" / "Get Up, Stand Up," followed by "Crazy Baldhead," "Positive Vibration," and the theme song "Smile Jamaica." Other tracks included "Rat Race," "Trenchtown Rock," "Keep on Moving," "Want More," "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)," "Jah Live," "Rastaman Chant," "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)," and "So Jah Seh." Marley had asked Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer to join, but they refused for political reasons.

Reader's Guide

Following the concert, Marley left Jamaica for Nassau, Bahamas, and later London, where he stayed for 16 months. He returned in 1978 for the One Love Peace Concert, famously bringing Manley and Edward Seaga on stage for an "awkward" embrace. The legacy of this event is visible today; Television Jamaica airs a morning show named Smile Jamaica as a nod to the concert's popularity. A "Smile Jamaica Hurricane Appeal" was held at London's Dominion Theatre on 16 October 1988, featuring U2 and Eddy Grant among others to raise funds after Hurricane Gilbert. In February 2008, Rita Marley organized "Africa Unite — Smile Jamaica 2008," a festival moved from South Africa to Jamaica due to financing issues, featuring Rihanna and Bunny Wailer. The event is also dramatized in the alternative historical novel Stir It Up by David Dusty Couples and the award-winning novel A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James.

Did You Know?

• Marley's wife Rita performed backing vocals while still wearing the hospital gown she had been discharged in just hours before the concert.
• Bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett went into hiding after the shooting and arrived late, forcing Robbie Shakespeare to stand in for him on bass.
• Over two hundred people were on stage during the performance, with many forming a human shield around Marley.
• Prime Minister Michael Manley watched the concert from the roof of a van after briefly appearing on stage.
• An unreleased film of the concert was made by Carl Colby, son of former CIA director William Colby.