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There is no better word than SMOOTH to describe this Jamaican reggae musician! Garnett Silk was born Garnett Smith on April 2, 1966, in Bromelia, Manchester, Jamaica, and died December 9, 1994 at the age of 28. A talented rising star, Garnett Silk’s career was cut short when he died trying to save his mother from her burning house.

Though his deejaying career began at age 12 as “Little Bimbo” on local sound systems, his first recordings were in 1989 at the urging of veteran singer Derrick Morgan. Producers Steely & Clevie convinced him to change his name to Garnett Silk because of his silky, smooth voice.

After struggling to find his niche, Garnett recorded his debut album “It’s Growing” in 1992, which was one of the best-selling albums in Jamaica that year. He kept up a grueling pace recording with all the major reggae producers until, in 1993, he collapsed during a show in New York, causing him to take a 6-month break to recover.

He began work on his second album at Tuff Gong studios with the likes of Sly & Robbie and Earl “Chinna” Smith. With the album nearly complete, Garnett went home to visit his mother. A friend was showing him how to work a gun Garnett had borrowed but it misfired, hitting a propane tank, setting the house on fire. After escaping, Garnett went back into the house where his mother was trapped, and both were lost in the blaze.

In these three short years, Garnett dominated the charts and sold out concerts, gaining international recognition as a singer/songwriter with a rare depth and originality. He was hailed as the next Bob Marley for the similar cultural, positive messages in his music. His message was all about love and the exceptional quality of his tunes demonstrates why he is a legend in reggae circles.

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