One of the artistes who fashioned the outlaw country movement in the 1970s, Kris Kristofferson’s music won fans in the United States, who loved working-class songs. The singer-songwriter, who died September 28 in Hawaii at age 88, had his share of fans in Jamaica.

Sunday Morning Coming Down, Kristofferson’s somber tale about a down-and-out man longing for simpler times, was a massive hit for his friend Johnny Cash in 1970. The following year, Ernie Smith’s reggae-flavoured cover was a hit in Jamaica.

Smith’s version was produced by Richard Khouri, whose family owned Federal Records, which distributed the single. He told Observer Online that management at the company encouraged him to cover Kristofferson’s song.

“In those days, even though I was writing songs, they wanted me to do covers as well. They wanted me to do songs that were already known,” Smith recalled.

Because Federal Records distributed Kristofferson’s music in Jamaica, Smith was familiar with some of his songs including For The Good Times, originally done by country singer Ray Price; and Me And Bobby McGee, a posthumous hit for Janis Joplin.

At the time he recorded Sunday Morning Coming Down, Smith was establishing himself as a singer-songwriter. Songs like Bend Down and Pitta Patta, produced by Khouri, announced him as a formidable talent.

For Sunday Morning Coming Down, Federal Records called in its top musicians including bassist Val Douglas, drummer Paul Douglas, guitarist Mikey Chung and keyboardist Garth Creary. Smith also played rhythm guitar.

Released when roots-reggae was taking off, the laid-back Sunday Morning Coming Down was not an immediate hit in Jamaica.

“If I remember right, it did not hit instantly but once it took off, that was it,” said Smith, whose career flourished throughout the 1970s with songs like Duppy Gunman and Life is Just For Living.

Other Jamaican artistes who covered Kris Kristofferson songs are John Holt (Help me Make it Through The Night) and Mikey Spice (For The Good Times).