[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23064]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 23064]]

O.C. SMITH, SINGER KNOWN FOR ``LITTLE GREEN APPLES'' DIES NOVEMBER 24, 
                                  2001

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jeff Miller of Florida). Under a 
previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Watson) is recognized for 5 minutes.



  Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I come to memorialize someone 
who was not only a constituent but a minister and a friend. The 
Reverend O.C. Smith was a jazz singer, a pop singer and minister.
  O.C. Smith, a one-time jazz singer in the Count Basie band, found 
popular success in the late 1960s with songs like ``That's Life'' and 
the Grammy-Award-winning ``Little Green Apples.'' When we walked into 
the sanctuary of his church on Sunday, there were big baskets of little 
green apples that were given out as a souvenir of his life; and little 
green apples grow into ripe red apples, such a symbol of who he was.
  Smith officiated at a Thanksgiving service Thursday. I do not know 
whether he foresaw his immediate demise, but he had all of his children 
come from around the country. He had asked the Reverend Barbara King to 
preach for him on Sunday, and she was on her way from San Diego to Los 
Angeles when she heard about his death.
  In early 1961, Smith auditioned successfully for the Count Basie 
band. He was the one who replaced the legendary Joe Williams.
  After the Count Basie band, Smith worked the club and concert circuit 
across the country, toured the Far East for several months, and settled 
in Los Angeles afterwards. Columbia Records soon signed him on and 
expanded his repertoire. Many Members probably remember the successful 
``That's Life'' which Frank Sinatra turned into a golden record years 
later. He obtained his first commercial breakthrough with ``Son of 
Hickory Holler's Tramp'' which became a big hit in Britain.
  Then came his version of Bobby Russell's ``Little Green Apples,'' 
winner of the Grammy Award in 1968. A year later Smith had another big 
R&B single, ``Daddy's Little Man'' in 1969 which hit number 9.
  I guess there was a calling or an avocation. In 1980, Smith's life 
began to take a new direction after friends invited him to attend a 
Science of the Mind service, and later on he became the Reverend O.C. 
Smith. He felt the presence and he was called to come and administer to 
many celebrities, many professionals and just regular people.
  The O.C. Smith I knew was kind, loving and always full of joy. He 
always had an uplifting word for you whenever you saw him, on the 
streets, in the theater performing, or in his church. I am very proud 
to say I was the only politician that he would allow to come up to the 
podium and speak and that he would endorse. The last time I saw him was 
in his church, but as we attended his church on Sunday, he was seen in 
spirit throughout that sanctuary.
  We have lost not only a minister but a person who could make one 
believe in the Supreme Being being inside of you. We lost a performer. 
We lost a great and spiritual man which we shall remember forever, and 
particularly when we hear his version of God's ``Little Green Apples.'' 
May he rest in peace and always be with us.

                          ____________________