Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter
The cover of Lady Ann's album 'Informer'. - Contributed
If a day can be a year in politics, a decade is like an eternity in Jamaican music, where a new entertainer pops up every other week and many fade from memory faster than bell-bottomed jeans - and do not mount a comeback. The Sunday Gleaner will be bringing back memories with 'Glory Days', a weekly look at some of the entertainers who were hot and cooled as time went by, but have made a significant contribution to Jamaican music, beginning with Lady Ann.
Lady Ann's voice could be that of a young artiste on the verge of greatness, eager and playful, but that quickly changes as she speaks of her challenges and triumphs in music for almost 29 years.
Barbara 'Lady Ann' Smith, was undeniably one of Jamaica's top artistes in the early 80s and, with the release of her song Informer in 1983, it was obvious Lady Ann was destined for something great.
But then there was nothing.
As years went by and a new generation of 'ladies' emerged, Lady Ann and her songs following Informer slipped into the cracks of Jamaican music history. It left her asking 'why?' and a younger generation unexposed to her music. Her migrating to the United States, from where she spoke to TheSunday Gleaner, did not help.
Where did you grow up? What was your family life like?
I grew up in Kingston 13, on Waltham Park Road. Well, I grew up in a big family with a mother, aunt, grandmother and that sort of thing.
When did you start deejaying and what did your family think?
In 1977. Then it was a fun thing. It was something that I liked and me just do it. Normally with females, dem nuh take you seriously when you do things and there is always the feeling that females wouldn't do certain things that males do.
How was it competing in an industry that was and still is male dominated?
The male dem fraid ah we because we bold. We tek it to a level they won't, especially now. Back then with people like Johnny Ringo and Peter Metro, them did love we and show dem appreciation, but now the male dem nuh stay so. Now, the males, we ruffa dan dem by far because the extreme wha we will go to and talk about certain things dem naw do that.
Did you go on many tours back then and did you have any problems doing so?
Yes man. Plus, back then I was the main leading female and you had people like Sister Carol, Sister Verna and dem people there. The only place me never go was England and them time deh me never have no problem; actually it did easier then."
What was your (deejaying) style that helped to define you in dancehall?
You find say I was one of the first female artiste them start call 'lady' then. Then after that everybody start call themself 'lady'. Then the other thing was that I used to do my song dem in terms of a love story or about something happening in the ghetto. But me wouldn't go too deep into certain things, because a lady can't do or say certain things. Then when so many people started coming up calling themself 'lady this' and 'lady that' I was surprised. But one thing though, when them do interview dem nuh talk who influence dem wid the name and dem thing deh. Them will say 'big up Sister Nancy'. I don't really feel no way still, but why not call yourself 'Sister' then? They are so biased. If me never name 'Lady' wha dem wouldah call themself?"
Which local female artiste's deejaying style do you think you influenced the most?
The whole of them, if you ask me. Them try to copy me to the 't', but dem nuh acknowledge me after them do that.
How difficult was your musical journey leading up to 'Informer'?
It was okay, but Informer is a song wha me like and don't like. It was a true story, ah nuh nothing wha me just mek up. The song mek me and give me a name, but after that things just stop and me nuh try fi understand why. The Informer song overshadow me - to people is like is the only song wha me did do. I was the first female deejay out there to have a number one song and a number one album. I did other songs too, like Husband and Wife, Tek Yuh Mouth Offa Me. So me like it and don't like it, because to other people is like me cyaan do anything except Informer.
In what other ways did the release of Informer impact your life and career?
After Informer was released I was working hard. Like as soon as I finish one show, I would be off to another one and at the time I had a young child, so it was hard and I was busy, busy. At the time I was on my own doing everything and I didn't have nobody really in my corner, so maybe that's why things turned out as they did."
We slowly stopped hearing about you. Why was that?
I was still recording and doing shows, but you naw hear bout that. No song naw play fi Lady Ann except Informer. Over the years I have worked with people like Sonic Sound, Sly and Robbie, Jah Life and so much producers. But if is not Informer, you not hearing it. I have been on shows like Sting, Sumfest, but is just that the business get a way now and the people in the business don't give you as much respect as they are supposed to.
Do you think your contribution to Jamaican music is recognised by the industry?
I don't think so. I would be getting so many shows, if that was the case. I still mash up shows... me and Sister Charmaine and the rest of them, so I don't see any reason why them nuh want to book us for these shows. Sometimes when dem have shows up here, you nuh see no female deejay, pure bull, no female, pure Tarzan, no Jane. Even when is a veteran show, dem will send us backstage tickets but that's it and if they decide to put us on a show, them want we do it for free. That is disrespectful. We have children to feed and support just the same. Then if we do the show, we done the place. So we can still do it, because no young girl who come after me nuh supposed to mash up show more than me.
You recently did a remix of Informer. How has it been doing?
I think it's doing well, but at the same time it isn't getting as much promotion as it should. Me not even care, because it overshadow the songs as I was saying and mek dem cyaan get past it - dem stuck.
Why aren't you on any local shows?
The promoters aren't giving us any shows. Everyone know where to find us, but is just the same set of people that them choose fi use on shows, Spice, Macka Diamond and Saw. They don't believe in us, they don't rate us. Everybody saying the same thing: 'why the same set of people all the time?' Apart from that is the same argument you hearing all the time, 'bout underneath them. Then you have the Beenie/Bounty foolishness. You can't eat the same thing everyday.
Do you ever visit Jamaica?
I don't even come there. Fi wha? Me naw come down there because me naw get no show, so me cyaan just siddung everyday and look. I have my kids, so why not stay here and take care of them? Ah Jamaica me born and grow. Me nuh have no problem coming down there, but I don't have any reason to do that.
Do you still listen to dancehall?
Some of them. To me some of them (songs) don't make no sense and to me is like dem a mash up dancehall and reggae music. I feel dem coulddah do some better with other lyrics, but there is too much violence and some of the things too slack. So what the young kids have to listen to? There is no story and dem naw send a message to educate the younger people.
How many children do you have and what do you love the most about being a mother?
I have five kids. (They are) 24, 22, 9, 8 and 6. To tell you the truth these kids drive me insane sometimes, but then they do some funny things and argue with each other and I just lay down and crack up.
How would your children describe you?
Me not even know. There are so much ways that they could describe me. The older ones claim that me spoil the younger ones more and they would probably say that me too miserable and my daughter would say me think me young. She have a problem with me going out and she wants my clothes. Now the babies, my son would probably say that I am the best mom in the world, because he says that all the time.
What has been your greatest joy in life?
Life in general. I have it and it is one of the greatest things. Music naw really do nothing for me, because I am one of the most underrated deejays in the business.
What has been your greatest disappointment?
The business. It treat me unfair and I feel like me and the other women like Sister Charmaine should get more ratings and respect. Me go through a lot for the business and put the music on the map and nobody thinks about that.
Do you ever think of remaking your image, in the same way that some artistes have like Lady Mackerel, now Macka Diamond, to help your career?
Lady Mackerel did haffi change her name at the time because she never buss. As fi me, people start call me War Ann, cause according to them me love war pon stage, but that's as far as it goes. Me already have so many albums and songs with my name out there, so if I were to change my name now it woulddah look a way.
