[2] He initially (unsuccessfully) sought a career as a radio announcer, but then approached Federal Studios looking for work as a songwriter, ending up recording his songs himself.

[2] Recording initially in an easy listening style, Smith's first chart success came in the late 1960s with "Bend Down", which was followed by Jamaican number one hits in "Ride on Sammy", "One Dream", and "Pitta Patta", all produced by Richard Khouri at Federal, the latter based on Lee "Scratch" Perry's "Musical Transplant" riddim, which was voted the best song of the year in Swing magazine.

[7] Smith's "I Can't Take It" topped the UK Singles Chart in 1975 when recorded by Johnny Nash under the title "Tears on My Pillow".

[5] In 1976 his "The Power and the Glory" was seen by some as a criticism of Prime Minister Michael Manley's policies, and led to threats on his life, prompting him to relocate with his family to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he recorded the albums To Behold Jah and Skareggae.

[4] In 2008, Smith returned with Country Mile, an album that was preceded by the singles "That's The Kinda People We Are" (a duet with Pluto Shervington) and "Give Her a Lion" (featuring Ron Muschette).