Ernie Smith sings for Belizean mothers
If your mother is like most in Belize City, she would not mind some special treatment this weekend. One gift sure to please is a trip down memory lane Saturday night at the Belize City Centre. News 5’s Kendra Griffith reports.
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Ernie Smith first performed in Belize in 1975. And despite a string of number one hits during the next twenty-five years, it was not until this past Valentine’s Day that his fans in the jewel were treated to an encore performance. Now it seems that Smith is taking steps to ensure that history will not repeat itself by returning for his second concert in less than three months.
Ernie Smith, Musician
“The first time I came, I came for Henry Young. I didn’t really make any contacts when I was here. Then Henry Young went into politics and he was out of the business, so I didn’t know anybody else here. Luckily for me Love FM found me in February and I’m back in Belize and it’s wonderful.”
“I’ve done so far about nine albums. The first was called Greatest Hits that was back in ’71. I did another one, Pitta Patta…It’s easier to talk about the hits because people know the hits more than the album. There were hits like Bend Down, Ride on Sammy, Pitta Patta, One Dream, Duppy Gunman, Power and the Glory, Play de Music.”
“I’ve written a million seller, I just want to perform one now. “Tears on My Pillow” was a million seller recorded by Johnny Nash. I just want to do one for myself and I’ll be all right.”
Also sharing the stage with Smith this weekend will be fellow recording artist Pluto Shervington. Both artists are products of the Jamaican music scene that flourished in the early 1970’s; their careers have remained intertwined for the past three decades.
Ernie Smith
“Pluto sang your honour. It was written at the same time we were kinda bouncing off each other ideas and styles at the time. I’ve performed a lot of places with Pluto over the years.”
“Mother’s Day is very special to me and I’m really looking forward to a great performance for Mother’s Day. Why should you come? Because we’re gonna have a great time.”
Tickets are thirty-five dollars in advance and forty at the door. The band strikes up at 10:00.
