Amongst them was 'Zion in a Vision,' a Jamaican number one cut with producer Jack Scorpio, as well as 'Hey Mama Africa'. ġ993's Gold, released by the UK Charm label, bundled up more hits from this period. Only one of the tracks recorded during this period, 'We Can Be Together,' a duet with Chevelle Franklin, was actually released at the time, and discouraged by this, he returned to Manchester and threw himself into songwriting, often in partnership with an old friend, Anthony 'Fire' Rochester. It was the production duo who decided to change his name to Garnet Silk, in reference to his smooth voice. The success of this session led him to continue as a singer, going on to work with producers King Tubby, Prince Jammy, and Donovan Germain, before signing a two-year contract with Steely & Clevie in 1990, recording an album's worth of songs for them. The Heartbeat label's Tony Rebel Meets Garnett Silk in a Dancehall Conference compiles these early Morgan-overseen recordings. In 1989, at the suggestion of veteran singer Derrick Morgan, Smith turned from deejaying to singing, with a recording session at Bunny Lee's studio with Rebel, including tracks recorded separately, as a duo, and with Anthony Selassie, and he began working under his real name. Rebel, a Rastarfari, eventually converted Smith to his religion with the help of dub poetYasus Afari, a close friend of both the DJs. The Garnett Silk Meets the Conquering Lion: A Dub Plate Selection album dates from about this time and features a clutch of exclusive recordings the DJ cut for the sound system from the mid-1980s through the end of the decade. The pair began performing as a duo around the sound systems to much acclaim.

In 1988, he joined Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion label, releasing 'No Disrespect', and working regularly with Tony Rebel, Smith now being billed simply as 'Bimbo'. An album of material from this period ( Journey) was later released. He recorded his first track in 1985, but it would be two years later before his first single, 'Problem Everywhere' was released. During the 1980s he worked as a deejay on sound systems such as Conquering Lion, Soul Remembrance, Pepper's Disco, Stereophonic, and Destiny Outernational (where he first met Tony Rebel). His musical career began at the age of twelve, when he performed under the name Little Bimbo.

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