1990s Reggae Music Album: 100% Silk by Garnett Silk

Garnett Silk released a lively and inspiring reggae album, 100% Silk, in 1993 with songs like "With Your Mercy" and "Zion in a Vision."

Garnett Damon Smith is known to reggae music fans as Garnett Silk. His music was calming, inspiring and very deep. Silk was a popular reggae artist but he tragically died in 1994 at age 28. Silk died on December 9, 1994. While his reggae music career was short, Silk gave a fresh flavor to the reggae music of the 1990s by using the popular riddims, also called instrumentals, to send positive messages to listeners. After his debut album in 1992, Silk released 100% Silk in 1993 and captured fans with tracks like "Oh Me Oh My," "Nothing Can Divide Us" and "Everything I Got."

Garnett Silk's Reggae Music Legacy

Garnett Silk released his debut album It's Growing in 1992 with the songs "It's Growing" and "I Am Vex." Then there was 100% Silk in 1993. Love is the Answer was released in 1994 shortly before

Silk's death. Popular songs from Love is the Answer are the title track "Love is the Answer" and "Friends And Lovers" which was originally sung by Carl Anderson & Gloria Loring. Silky Mood was released posthumously with "Let Them Talk" along with Nothing Can Divide Us in 1995 with "Man Is Just A Man" and the title track "Nothing Can Divide Us."

These albums were all released through VP Records. Compilations of Silk's music include Garnett Silk: The Definitive Collection CD which was released in 2000 with Atlantic. There is also the Reggae Anthology: Music Is the Rod with VP Records in 2004 which has "Splashing Dashing" as the first song on the CD. "Splashing Dashing" is sung on the "Death In the Arena Riddim" and was also released on Reggae Gold 1994.

The Songs from Garnett Silk's 100% Silk

The 100% Silk album provides mellow reggae music that has powerful messages about love and hope. Some of the songs fall on riddims that were powerful and popular during the 1990s. Of the thirteen songs on 100% Silk, Garnett Silk wrote eight of the songs. "Everything I Got" was written by P. Barnett and "Love Me Or Leave Me" was written by A. Rochester.

• Silk Saw "Zion in a Vision": Silk begins this song "I saw Zion in a vision / Jah was there amidst everyone." This song was written by Silk and shares his idea of what Zion or heaven would look like. Silk refers to unity, happiness and righteousness. He sings that "that there is no room for the ungodly / not for the workers of iniquity / only pure in heart..." "Zion in a Vision" is sung on the on the "Friends For Life Riddim," a riddim that Capleton (http://www.capletonmusic.com/) with Josie Mel sang "Youth Fi Big" and Anthony B. sang "Fire Man"
• "Oh Me Oh My" is Reggae Music for the Ladies: "Oh Me Oh My" was written by Silk and A. Rochester and sung on the "Love Bump Riddim." This riddim also features Don Campbell's "See It In Your Eyes" and Frankie Paul's "Stuck On You". In "Oh Me Oh My," Silk sings of how he is taken aback by a positive and beautiful woman. "For you they'll make vacancy / baby you've got your PHD" and "darling I'm so proud of you / your intentions are so true" are some of the lyrics.
• Reggae Lover's Anthem "Nothing Can Divide Us": The chorus in "Nothing Can Divide Us" is "Nothing can divide us / nothing separate us / nothing can divide us / no one can stop me from loving you." Silk wrote this song and sang it on the upbeat and re-mastered "Full Up Riddim." He sings this entire song in dedication to the love of his life.
• * "With Your Mercy" is Roots Reggae: "With Your Mercy" was written by Silk and A. Rochester and was sung with a passionate voice that recognized the shortcomings of the human race while giving praises to God. Silk quotes Matthew 4, Verse 4 in singing "Man shall not live by bread alone but by the words that proceedth from Jah Jah." This is a very spiritual song that is sung on the "Truly Riddim". Another reggae artist, Pam Hall, sang "Truly" on the "Truly Riddim."

Garnett Silk was an inspiring reggae artist who sang passionately about love and spirituality. He released his second album, 100% Silk, in 1993. 100% Silk gave listeners "Necessity" and "Blessed Be the Almighty." While Silk died in 1994, his music still sends a powerful message to anyone who is listens.