[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 161 (Tuesday, November 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JENNIFER JEAN SMITH

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                            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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