UWI professor singing his way to stardom

Dr Trevor Smith is known for his erudition and pedagogy in the specialised areas of marketing and consumer behaviour at the Mona campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) where he is a respected professor, but he is now entering new territory as he is about to launch a music career and has taken on the moniker ‘The Singing Professor’.

He explained that the moniker was given to him by the head of his school at the university, who heard his informal recording of an R&B classic from the ‘70s and teasingly gave him this name. He will be focusing on reggae/lovers’ rock, jazz and R&B.

“I have informally done songs from the Chi Lites, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Goldsborough, and a host of other singers from the 1960s and ‘70s. For example, I recently recorded a reggae version of the Chi Lites’ Homely Girl. I have also recorded a jazz version of the Bobby Goldsborough Honey song. Both songs are professionally recorded and will be released soon. In addition, I have informally recorded Frank Sinatra’s My Way in my home studio, and which I sing at karaoke on the UWI campus when I get the chance,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.

Smith began singing for the first time in May 2023, following a joke with his friend DJ Floyd, a Jamaican living in Florida, who challenged him to sing an old song. The Singing Professor explained that he had never sung before this – not at school, not at church – except, of course, “the usual bathroom singing that we do from time to time”.

Without any formal training, he recorded his first song in November last year, as a tribute to his mother who passed away during the pandemic. He has kept going since, encouraged by persons who have given him a listening ear at every opportunity he gets to share his vocal ability.

“This has not proven to be much of a problem for me to balance music and my professorial duties as I wrote my first song, Oh Mama, as a dedication to my mother. I was directed by UG Dias at the Dehva Home Studio on how to sing it in lovers’ rock style. Thanks to UG for bringing me to the music world. Some of the giants that have influenced my early work so far include Lymie Murray [coach and backup vocalist], Bowie and the team from Tuff Gong Studios ... musicians and rhythm makers for my songs and studio engineers, Puzzle and Fatta Pottinger, who made magic with the songs,” he shared.

Readily admitting that he is aware that a career in music may be demanding, he said he does not think it will interfere with his responsibilities in academia, as he is able to strike a happy balance.

“I am the sole producer of my songs, under the label Trevor Music House, and so I am on my own timetable, not being obligated to any producer who may want to pressure me into doing tours and other engagements to make money. Of course, I’ll do the tours and engagements in my own time,” he said.

As his career progresses, he admitted, feedback has been “a bit mixed” and he doesn’t think that his colleagues, students or family are taking his music seriously. He added, however, that in “very recent times”, it appears that perspectives are changing.

“I have not faced any challenges so for. Nonetheless, I can see that the music has a jealousy streak and will take you away from the other things you do. I often say to people that if you don’t manage the music, it will manage you and so I try to manage the music,” he joked.

Smith is expected to release his first single, Luv U Jamaica, any day now, while his seven-song EP should be released by summer.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com