Earl %22Chinna%22 Smith

Earl Chinna Smith , aka Earl Flute and Melchezidek the High Priest, is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late 1960s. He is most well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and has recorded with many reggae artists, appearing on more than 500 albums.

Smith was born onAugust 1955, and raised by family friends in the Greenwich Farm area of Kingston. His father and godfather were both sound system owners, his fathers, Smiths, operated by Bunny Lee. Earl tried to emulate them using a toy sound system, leading to his nickname of Tuner , which was corrupted to Chuner and later Chinna. Smith became interested in guitar as a teenager and made his own from sardine cans and fishing line. He formed a vocal group with his friend Earl Johnson and another youth, and they regularly sat in on sessions by the Soul Syndicate band. Smith was taught the basics of guitar by the bands guitarist Cleon Douglas, and became so adept at playing the bands repertoire that he was asked to join the band when Douglas emigrated to the United States.

Source: Wikipedia