In reflecting on the life of Ernie Smith, New York attorney Merrick Dammar pointed not only to his music, but to the deep personal relationships that shaped his later years — especially his bond with singer Pluto Shervington and the grounding influence of his wife Janet.
“They were like twin brothers… best friends… collaborators,” Dammar said of Smith and Shervington.
Their lifelong friendship stretched back more than five decades, long before fame, when both were part of Jamaica’s evolving music scene at Federal Records in Kingston. Their relationship was characterized by deep mutual respect and frequent creative collaboration. They wrote for and with each other, crafting songs rooted in real-life experiences and sharp social commentary. That brotherhood, Dammar believes, was so strong that Shervington’s passing marked the beginning of Smith’s decline.
“What I think really happened… I believe when Pluto Shervington died, a part of Ernie left us and went to the grave with Pluto,” he said.
Equally significant in Smith’s life was his late second wife, Janet, whom Dammar described as his anchor.
“She was his manager… his partner… his best friend… Janet was his beacon, his monitor,” he shared.
According to Dammar, Janet played a critical role in balancing Smith’s generous nature.
“He was so kind that if it was Ernie alone, he would not have a toothpick because he would give it away,” he said, underscoring her role in protecting and guiding him.
Janet’s passing during the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a heavy emotional blow, though Smith eventually found companionship again. Still, Dammar suggested that while Janet’s death shook him, it was the loss of Pluto that truly altered his spirit. Throughout it all, Smith remained a source of joy to those around him — a man whose laughter was as powerful as his music.
“When Ernie laughed, Ernie’s soul laughed… it pulled you into it,” Dammar recalled.
Smith, who was born in Kingston in 1945, was raised in St. Ann. Among his popular hit songs were “Bend Down,” “Ride On Sammy,” “I for Jesus,” “Pitta Patta,” “Duppy or Gunman,” and “Key Card.” In 1972, his song “Life Is Just for Living” — originally a Red Stripe jingle — won an international music award at the Yamaha Music Festival in Tokyo. The following year, the Government of Jamaica awarded him the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in the Field of Music.
From his early days in Kingston to international acclaim and decades of influence, Smith’s life was defined by connection — to his music, his friends, and his family.
In the end, those closest to him remember not just a legend, but a man whose heart was as expansive as his catalogue — and whose final years were shaped as much by love and loss as by legacy.
At the time of his death on April 16, Smith was married to Claudette Bailey Smith, who confirmed his hospitalization in Florida and his subsequent passing.
