Ras 1

From the Ras 1 Website:



I was born, Richard Arthur Smith, to a young and beautiful couple of kooks on December 29th, 1970, in Harbor General Hospital. The most ghetto hospital in the Los Angeles area. My Dad worked on the rail road, Mom played music. Folk mostly at first, bunch of hippies in the living room every weekend. Me and my brother trudging through them to the toaster, to make some waffles. Then we had a pig farm, pork went bad, we moved back to the lbc.Then Mom got a job as the cook in the Jazz Safari, Served dinner to some legends( including Lionel Hampton, Kenny Burell, Willie Bobo, and Leroy Vinegar to name a few.) lied about having an all girl Be Bop group. Formed one in a week. Then, she was the house band. So, I was raised up on folk- outlaw country- Jazz- and KISS up till then. Then, my cousin got an electric guitar(His mom got me my first one when I was 7) and it was all over. Rock n roll was now so tangible. With a Gorilla amp, a whammy bar, and a distortion pedal. anything sounded rad. Around the same time my brother started digging Run DMC, the FATBOYS, and Bob Marley- Peter Tosh- King Yellowman. The spectrum was broadening so much, even if I couldn't see it.



So, I began Playing seriously when I was 12. Played it till my fingers bled, It was the summer of '83. I went to the US festival, and was hooked. I went on a mission to be in a band. Played in a bunch of bands that never moved out of the garage, or a handful of back yards for years. Long Beach at the time was really kind of crazy on the north side. We would mainly just sit around and drink beer, get in fights, smoke cess bud, and try to get laid. If a girl wasn't with child or to young, she was hiding. or was scary. So I started to look elsewhere. I found a new frontier, "Downtown Long Beach". Yes! Lovely downtown, Where there where women who had a little more style- less scared- and loving to party! Along with them, there was a lot more people into playing, and experiencing live music. Meanwhile, back in North Town we had our own little group that was becoming very conscious/culturally non-biased/ and just pretty friggin' stylish too.



I met a bunch of younger dudes that where dancers. They had a hip-hop crew named the "Daisy Tribe".(Hahaha! They know who they are.) Along withe a couple of other bros. who where all into the reggae scene. We where really onto something. We where all different races. Mostly human. But. You know- Black/ White/ Mexicans/ Asians. Basically a melting pot in North Side. One night I heard that this band was playing at a party about 5 blocks north of my house named "Sublime". I heard they where really good. I heard they had a great singer No shit, that is what my friend said. So, I went and jumped the fence so I didn't have to pay 3 bucks. Saw them play for about 4 hours before the cops came, and was totally inspired. 1 week later me and my friends, who asked me to join because none of them new how to play a single note decided to start a reggae group. We didn't have any songs, or any clue how to play reggae but if those dudes could do it. So could we. We also had a good name. "Jah Children" was born.



Within about 6 months we where opening for Sublime, of which by this time had a very big following. It was a great time in my life. I wish sometimes that it would have just like froze right there.



Anyways, after that I was still working at a steel cutting saw. Worrying about cutting my fingers off. I met Opie, from the urge of wanting to get tattooed. We ended up being best friends. He moved into my pad. Became friends with Jack Maness, Eric, Bud, and Brad, and the rest of the whole sublime family.(you know who you are) I joined a band called "Allday". It was fun. I was still in JC, but was really tired of the whole "JAH" thing. So, I quit. Just about that time KROQ started playing "Date Rape". I was so stoked on getting to be a part of the crew down here on the South Side. Going to huge shows, Being a menace to huge stars, Drinking like a viking, smoking killer weed, getting tattooed head to toe. It was another great time, after another.



Also, getting to know Brad Nowell, Eric Wilson. These guys where really classic dudes. They where just about playing music, and having a good time. Bud too, don't get me wrong. He was also into wrenching on his ride, and he was into his lady. As where Eric, and Brad. With these too though, there was a musical bond that I hadn't ever seen before. Sadly, a couple of years later that had to be severed by Brad's death. I thought it was the end of an era. and it was.



A year later or so, There was plans to have an anti-drug awareness concert. The guys wanted to play it. So, I got a call and went down to there studio. Me and Eric and Bud Jammed. It was the beginning of what was to become the "Long Beach Dub All Stars". We made two albums, played with some of the greats, and broke up. We had a bunch of good times, and a bunch of bad times. I try to focus on the good ones. It is hard to forget the bad ones, though. Right before we did break up, Me and Eric wanted to play some backyard parties again. So we started Shortbus. After all, it is all about the small things little things. right? We are still playing the old stuff, and are making up some really cool new stuff. I am sure that Brad would be proud. Thanks for checking out my website.



One love and Rock-n-Roll, Ras1