Celebrating more than three decades as a musician, Lionel Smith, a Parkwood gospel singer, went down memory lane with some sound advice to the youth of today.
Reminiscing about the early days when he started singing, Smith says before he sang gospel, he performed with a group called Peace.
“I started singing in the 70s with a group called Peace which is when I was introduced to a group by the late Stanley Williams from Cafda.
“My first night club performance was at the Champion and Key with the song ‘Soley Soley’ and a few other Michael Jackson songs performed with the late Ronnie Joyce at the Key Nite Club in Grassy Park.”
Smith says his favourite performance songs had been tracks by Michael Jackson, his favourite artist, and the Jackson 5.
“My brothers and I formed a group called Smith 5, but the group later broke up and I went solo.
“We went to Charles Segal Music School, where we learned to read music scores.”
Explaining further, Smith says, at the time, he met different promoters and performed on shows. “I performed with them on their variety shows with various brown singers such as Cecil Mitch, Jacob Twins, Rico White, Eddie Star and Walter Brown.
“Later, I met with Tully Mc Cally Studio in Plain Street Cape Town and worked on a single.”
The 55-year-old says he started singing gospel in the 90s. “I started to sing gospel which taught me a lot about life and how to live God’s way of life.
“Many of our brown singers turn to gospel but for the wrong reasons.”
As a gospel musician, Smith writes and composes his music.
“I have a number of songs that I recorded that nobody knows of.”
His message to the youth is to never give up.
“My message to the youth of today, and any upcoming singers, is don’t wish for it to work.
“It will never come to you unless you go and get it. Never give up.”
In his career, Smith says he found himself turned away and disappointed many times.
“I was also turned away but I never gave up. Practice makes perfect. I love singing and have always had a passion for it.”
Smith says he practises 10 songs a day five days a week.
“Our youth of today have all the opportunity but they sit back and wait until the opportunities come to them.”
The musician is now focusing on his music and style.
“Right now, I am focused on my own brand of music and my own style. I’m trying to get copyrights to do a few cover songs on Facebook Live Stream.”
In conclusion, Smith says singing has no age restrictions.
