When I was a teenager my dad Lenny Smith asked my sister Megan and I if we wanted to make some extra money and help him on a construction site job. We both agreed and all day we had to drag roof shingles with large nails in them and throw them into an enormous trash receptor. Hour after hour, we drug these heavy black shingles and the pile never seemed to end. My father stood on top of the roof with a couple of other men and the shingles continued to pour down.

Megan and I struggled but were determined to finish out the day. She continued on working with him over the years along with Daniel, David, and Andrew, but that day under the hot sun was my first and my last. There was no amount of money that could tempt me to get back in there to do that gruesome work.

Here my dad digs out a hole for the foundation of our house addition. My mom was getting a new kitchen.

Working on plumbing in Harrisburg.

Daniel and Dad working on the Sounds Familyre Studio

I tell this story because my dad Lenny Smith is an artist—a singer, songwriter, worshipper who also needed to provide for his wife and five children. Every man and woman struggles with balancing their passions, gifts, and desires with the practicality of life. Often we think that if we aren’t working in our passions full time than maybe we aren’t quite a success. But that is a lie that our mind tells us. We are successful when we simply DO regardless of man’s praise or scorn for our work.

Lenny Smith has written songs to the Creator since his youth. Now in his 70’s I see his plethora of work before him…not simply the hundreds of songs he has written, some more successful in the eyes of man than others, but the work of his hands, providing for his wife and children. His love, provision, music, words, encouragement is the fruit of the beauty of the Holy Spirit within him. This is what is powerful in an artist, not the “mainstream success” of a song. Knowing how to do what you need to do in the style with which you are inspired is an admirable attribute. Lenny has never tried to be anyone but himself. He could never be anyone but himself.

I encourage all of you artists out there to be who you are. Why is it that musicians in particular are so insecure about their work? About being who they are and expressing what they love and what comes easy to them? I never care about sharing a design I’ve created and could care less about any opinions against it, but music….it comes from your soul. It is a deep part of yourself in all of its raw beauty.

Come and enjoy the raw beauty of Lenny’s “Who Was And Is And Is To Come.”All of his five children have come together to support him in this beautiful expression of his heart with Daniel Smith of Sounds Familyre mixing the different voices and instruments into a masterful yet simplistic composition.

Love,

Today I am so excited to talk about my dad, Lenny Smith. Maybe you think that I shouldn’t be writing about him because I am so close, but that is exactly why I SHOULD be. I have spent 24 years under the roof of this man and as his daughter I have experience and insight like none other.

We all have memories from our childhood pop up in our minds and some are more vivid than others. I have memories of my mother cooking dinner every night in the kitchen and stitching her embroidery pieces in the evening. I also remember that it was not an unusual occurrence for my father to lay his head down on the kitchen table and fall asleep as we ate after a long day working construction. It’s funny some of the things that still permeate your memory from childhood.

Another constant was seeing my father play his guitar and sing to the Lord.We didn’t think anything of it–it was just part of our daily living. We would play our games, read our books, do our homework, come and go, and there he was–singing. When I got older and started playing guitar and worshipping myself in my home with my children around me, it was so natural because after all, isn’t this what everyone does?

I could throw out some cool things like, “My Dad wrote “Our God Reigns” and it was the Pope’s favorite song.” or “My Dad has led worship and spoken in congregations of every denomination all over.” The truth is that those things are nice and encouraging, but the real truth is even more stripped down.

My Dad is the real deal. He embraces the creativity and the music that the Lord has put within him. He writes music and moves forward everyday. He plays and he sings all the time–not because he has to, but because he NEEDS to. He doesn’t do it for people and no one is watching…or at least it seemed like it. But here we are today and I guess I was watching.

Check out Lenny’s latest album, “Who Was And Is And Is To Come” and experience for yourself the joyful creative worship of a man who bares himself to the world.

Don’t just take our word for it. Here are some beautiful comments from Sally Morgenthaler:

“Both sound and lyrics are pure, hopeful, real, unfettered.  Your roots in 60s folk are unmistakable. Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger.  Never thought I’d hear that brought to worship.”

Here is Daniel Smith’s artwork for Lenny’s “Deep Calls To Deep” album and if you look closely enough my dad is literally shown as baring himself and his heart to the world.

Stay posted as his next album is currently being worked on in the Sounds Familyre Studio right now! It truly is a joyful noise to behold.

When I grow up I want to be just like my dad!

Love,

Important Links To Explore:

Great Comfort Records
Lenny Smith: Who Was And Is And Is To Come
Lenny Smith: Deep Calls To Deep
Sounds Familyre Records