More about Songwriter / Musical Performer, Papa Smurf:

Born: June 2, 1978
Birthplace: Freeport, Grand Bahama
Real name: Alvin Simms
Best Known For: His Most Popular Songs (Tings Still Cool) "What Da Vibe Is", "Forward Upward", and "Serious Ting"
 
Growing up in Eight Mile Rock, Avin had a real taste of island life, from shooting marbles at home and during lunchtime in the school yard to going fishing with his father in his 12 foot aluminum dingy boat.  From a young age his mother would line him and his two brothers up and ask them to sing for her.  But it was not until the age of Thirteen that he developed a strong interest in music, and cars.  He would race down the road playing songs from KB (Just cause she fat). The high school children with their boom boxes would walk down the road playing  songs from Bob Marley, and at home he would hear songs from Smokey 007 on ZNS radio. Simms had interest in different genres of music from Hip-Hop, R&B, Soca, to Reggae and Dancehall. He got his first taste of performing in front of a crowd at the local Fish-Fry in Smith's Point.  He then went on to perform in local concert shows, sharing the stage with local and international artists. 

Alvin then moved forward to recording his music, and working with recording engineers such as Fritz Bootle, Lester Adderly, and Dave Mackey of T-Connection. In 2007 he met Terrance Capron and they later became the rap duo Positive Link. Using Bahamian slang and Bahamian terminology in their songs they introduced a whole new style of music that they call "Bahamian Swing" which also was the name of their debut album.