Maxie Livingston Smith became Max Romeo through his concerted courtship of a local beauty. After a difficult childhood he became lead singer of The Emotions harmony group, with Lloyd Shakespeare, brother of future bass wizard Robbie, during the rocksteady era. Following the demise of the group, in 1968, at the request of Bunny Lee, Max wrote the suggestive 'Wet Dream'. Despite a BBC ban, the song topped the British charts, spawning the debut album 'A Dream'.