[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO SMITH DOBSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2001

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
legendary jazz musician who passed away last month. Smith Dobson died 
April 20, 2001, in an automobile accident that took the life of a great 
pianist and teacher. Mr. Dobson was only 54.
  Smith Dobson had a career that led him to some of the highest levels 
of performance. He has shared the stage with musicians such as Art 
Pepper, Pharoah Sanders, Freddie Hubbard, Mundell Lowe, Stan Getz, 
among many others, and has spent the last 13 years playing with 
vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. At the beginning of his career, in fact, 
he was a member of the Airmen of Note, the official White House jazz 
band. His teaching career has been equally praised, having held 
positions in jazz history at the University of California, Santa Cruz, 
and jazz piano and harmony at San Jose State University. Mr. Dobson was 
also a dedicated community advocate for musical education and outreach. 
He sat on the boards of the San Jose Jazz Society, the Stanford Jazz 
Alliance and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz.
  Indeed, Mr. Speaker, his death has shocked our local community as 
well as the jazz community at large. At his memorial service, over 
1,000 people came to pay their respects, filling the chapel two hours 
before the service even began. His life was celebrated in word and in 
song, as his friends and colleagues shared tales and memories. Smith 
Dobson has been described as the ``moral center of the community'', a 
``world-class'' player, and the ``first-call guy''. In fact, last year 
the internationally known Monterey Jazz Festival recognized his talent 
and dedication to his craft with a lifetime achievement award. He and 
his family were also the recipients of the 2001 Gail Rich Award for 
excellence in the arts. Mr. Dobson's loss is indeed a loss for us all.
  Smith Dobson was a consummate musician and member of his community, 
and I am sure that his legacy will continue through the talents of his 
two children and wife, all of whom are accomplished musicians as well. 
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Gail of Santa Cruz; son, Smith 
Jr. of San Francisco; and daughter, Sasha, of New York; as well as 
thousands of musicians, friends, colleagues and fans.

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