[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 93 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING A LOCAL MUSICIAN'S CAREER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 19, 2009

  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, a great education is a well-rounded 
education. This means students should not only be exposed to technical 
subjects such as math and the sciences, but the humanities and arts as 
well. Today I wish to honor the life and career of a woman who made 
great contributions to Florida's music culture as well as inspiring 
many young students, Mrs. Billye-Mullins Smith.
  A resident of Winter Haven, Florida, Mrs. Smith was a musician, music 
educator, and music composer who has impacted the life of many young 
school children since the mid-1940s. She authored the Opus I Music 
Study program, which provided a great study for aspiring young 
musicians. Her late husband, Carroll Smith II, provided the lyrics for 
the song she composed entitled, ``I Want To Wake Up In The Morning 
Where The Orange Blossoms Grow,'' which is more commonly known as, 
``The Florida Song.''
  This song touched many Floridians statewide. It originally started as 
a piece to be played in front of the Winter Haven Lions Club meeting 
with her husband singing backed by her piano. In short order, this 
piece made its way from the Lions Club meeting into elementary school 
classrooms. Since then, several generations grew up singing about the 
orange blossoms and birds of the great state of Florida.
  Mrs. Smith was honored on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at the Lakeland 
Center in the Yourkey Theater.

                          ____________________