User:Davis2012

"Shawnda Barnes" p.k.a "Smiley" was Born and raised in Detroit Michigan. Shawnda acquired the name "Smiley" during her early years of high school (Cooley High, Detroit Michigan). The name was given to her by a freshman whom she had a serious crush on, and whenever she would see him she would smile uncontrollably, hence the name Smiley.

In high school, Smiley belonged to a rap group called "Lacruso". The group consisted of Smiley's childhood friends Kim "Vanilla" Foster & Oleta "Cartoon" Jones. The trio started the group in 1985 out of their obsession for New Edition. The goal was to become famous so they could one day tour with New Edition. After high school, the group drifted apart but Smiley continued to record music. In 1989 Smiley was offered a solo recording contract from Bryant Records (later to be distributed by Ichiban Records). Smiley signed with Bryant Records and recorded her first single entitled "The smile gets wild". The single created enough buzz for Bryant Records to push for an album.

In the later year of 1989 Bryant Records released the second single entitled "Smiley but I'm not friendly". The single went gold and Bryant Records became the "go to" label for independent artists in Detroit.

When Smiley graduated from Cooley High in 1988, she was immediately hired by Martiz Communications (a video company specializing in full video production). She worked as an production assistant