2001CRE2138A TRIBUTE TO JENNIFER JEAN SMITH
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[Congressional Record: November 27, 2001 (Extensions)]
[Page E2138]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr27no01-29]
TRIBUTE TO JENNIFER JEAN SMITH
______
HON. NICK SMITH
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Jennifer
Jean Smith on the release of True North, a musical album that she both
wrote and composed. Jennifer's love of music and words began at an
early age. Always a singer and performer, grade school led to choirs,
show choirs and many gigs as a soloist.
An outgoing yet introspective young Jennifer displayed her writing
skills at an early age. Little blank books became filled with poetry,
and an antique typewriter became a favorite tool for composing stories.
An old upright piano, passed on by Jennifer's grandmother, Ruth Smith,
a beloved music teacher and musician, served as the instrument for the
composition of early songs, including ``The Energy Crisis'' written in
the early 70s.
Jennifer said, dreaming of being a star is one thing, but for a small
town girl raised on a dairy farm, actually knowing how one goes about
such a thing is quite another. ``There were many challenges.''
Her first years of college were spent at Michigan State University
where she pursued a career that included music. Jennifer moved to Ann
Arbor in 1990. Once settled and working at the University of Michigan,
she turned her attention again to making music and writing songs.
Picking up and learning to play the guitar soon led to many finished
songs and trips to Nashville. Jennifer launched her own music
publishing company, The Michigan Rose Music Co., and record label,
Michigan Rose Records.
In June 2001, Michigan Rose Records released its first single, True
North, the title cut to Jennifer's first CD. True North--relating to
the life and death of Dale Earnhardt, the race car hero--was recorded
along with four other original songs in Nashville this past May. The
CD, which was recorded and produced by Phil Dillon at Nickel City
Studios, features her daughter Jackie on background vocals and a group
of world-class Nashville studio musicians. Despite being an independent
release, the single has received airtime on major country radio
stations across the United States and has resulted in further
opportunities to write and sing--the beginning of a long-awaited dream.
Mr. Speaker, we congratulate Jennifer Jean Smith for her perseverance
and success.
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