UK Dancehall/Reggae Veteran Smiley Culture Dies During Drug Raid At His House
The UK’s Independent Police Complaints Commission is reportedly investigating the death today, of veteran dancehall/reggae artiste David ‘Smiley Culture’ Emmanuel, who allegedly died of a self-inflicted stab wound during a police drug raid on his home in Warlingham, Surrey.
According to the UK Sun: Reggae star Smiley Culture stabbed himself to death yesterday after being arrested in a drugs bust. The 48-year-old asked police if he could make a cup of tea before being taken into custody. Detectives allowed Smiley – real name David Emmanuel – to go and put the kettle on in his kitchen. But the star – who had a 1984 hit with a song called Police Officer – grabbed a carving knife and stabbed himself in the heart. Stunned cops found him dying from the self-inflicted wound. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to probe his death but sources stressed there were no suspicious circumstances. Smiley – who also had a big hit with Cockney Translation about the struggle of Jamaicans to understand London accents – was already on bail over a £250,000 cocaine seizure before yesterday’s 7am raid on his home in Warlingham, Surrey.
Additional news reports on the incident:
Herald Sun – UK reggae star Smiley Culture dies during police raid
Sky News – Reggae Star Smiley Culture Dies In Drugs Raid
I have been crying ith my room already missing my friend Steely, as I was listening to music Steely and Clevie made, and I started thinking about Gregory Issacs, Dennis Brown, Mikey Dread, Tenor Saw, Bob Marley, Peter tosh, Garnett Silk, Simple Simon, and all the dancehall massive who are gone…then Buju Banton, Desmond Ballentine in lock up. Now I read this about Smiley, who I performed with on a stage show with in Los Angeles, and if my heart bled from the pain I feel tonight, I, too, would be joining all of the amazing artists who have gone before their time at the BigDancehall Show in heaven.
True that sistah Becca Boom…I too will be right behind you being enlightened by the legends of Reggae may they all R.I.P. all leaving us so young but their music lives on….OneLove!