| CLARENCE LEE SMITH III A native of N.Miami, Florida. Clarence was born October 7, 1979. From a long line of musical ancestors, Lee, as he prefers to be called, learned to sing Sunday School Hymns, at his parents knee, almost as soon as he could talk. His father, now deceased and mother are long time members of the First Baptist Church of Greater Miami, Florida.Clarence now attends Ives Diary Baptist Church, in N Mia Bch. He sings in both choirs & plays his electric bass in the ensemble. In his family tree are several well known singers, Loretta (Webb) Lynn, her sister Crystal (Webb) Gail and their cousin Jerry Lee Lewis. Lee’s uncle, John Clarence Smith, whose alma mater is Miami High, formed his own band while in junior high, in the middle 60’s, called Trail Blazers. John was head guitar and lead singer. Several years after graduation, John continued to play at church functions, weddings and other social events. In 1989 another cousin Ashley Cleveland, of Knoxville, Tennessee, who sings mostly gospel, and writes most of her songs, recorded several albums with Reunion Records in Nashville, Tennessee. Some of her original compositions are; End Of The Long Goodbye, You Can’t Walk The Wire and Take A Walk Through Bethlehem. Lee who specializes in playing the bass, also plays the piano and several other instruments. He is invited to sing and play weekly in the local churches.He plays the bass in Jazz band, and the Tuba in marching band, at N Miami Sr High. He also played in The South Florida Youth Symphony. Lee was selected one of Florida’s Top Singers in 1998, an honor of which he is very proud. There are only 300 singers in this prestigious group. He hope’s to attend college, to teach music & become a music minister. By Grace Lee Smith Green (Proud Aunt) 1998 |
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