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Left to right, Jenny Smid cares for little Emmy as her older sisters Kate and Michelle sing a song along with their father Jamie. (RICK CHASE/ COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Sweet music
By KAREN HEINSELMAN, Courier Staff Writer
DUNKERTON --- Music began as a pastime for two kids.
Jenny grew up singing with her parents, Dennis and Debby Stickfort, in Dunkerton. Encouraged by his folks in West Union, Jamie Smid picked up a guitar as a teen and never let go.
Years later, they met, and music played a memorable role in their budding relationship. According to Jenny, Jamie was quite romantic.
"He would sing love songs to me and look into my eyes, and I melted," she says.
Today, making music --- an eclectic mix of gospel, bluegrass and country --- remains an integral part of their lives and an activity the Jenny and Jamie Smid share with their three daughters.
"It's just our little family hobby," Jamie says. "It's a great stress-reliever."
Jamie may pick up the guitar after a day's work running Computer Troubleshooters in Waterloo. Jenny and the girls --- Katie, 8, and Michelle, 5, --- lend their voices. Emmy, just 2, observes the fun.
Jenny defers to Jamie.
"I back him up," she says. "He's the lead singer."
Jamie won't let that stand, though. His wife sang publicly long before he came along to join in.
"She does fine," Jamie says. "I tell her all the time she does great."
The Smids have shared their music with others for five years. The family performs at churches by invitation and at regular gospel music events in Dunkerton and Hudson.
"It kind of grew from there," Jamie says.
The family also recently performed at a steel guitar show in Wisconsin. The Smids plan to return Friday evening to Dunkerton Days and will make an appearance at a gospel sing July 26 in Pella. Next month, they will play at a family music festival at Lake Itasca in Minnesota.
The Smid family finished their first CD in May after six months of work. The project, a fun but challenging effort, followed encouragement from family and friends, according to Debby Stickfort.
"They got their wings stretched publicly, and people just encouraged them," she says.
Michael Cutsforth of Waterloo, owner of MC Audio, recorded, mixed and produced the CD. The Smids worked with Cutsforth years earlier while recording songs with Jenny's parents.
Cutsforth says he almost fell out of his chair at the sound of Jamie's voice.
"He is the real deal when it comes to bluegrass and gospel," Cutsforth says.
And Jenny "sings so sweet and so pure," he adds.
The title of the CD, "He Satisfies," refers to the Smids' Christian faith and the reason they sing. The Smids offer a version of a familiar hymn, "Just As I Am," and also newer songs, like "Far Side Banks of Jordan," by artist Terry Smith.
"My faith is very, very important to me," Jamie says. "To be able to sing about Christ is wonderful."
"It adds power to the song," Jenny adds.
Katie and Michelle team up for three songs on the CD. And at a family practice this spring, the oldest girls sing along to other hymns and religious songs.
Katie offers a solo, exuding confidence. Michelle remembers her part, too. On one song, she belts out "fret not" at all the right parts. Emmy stands in the middle of the rehearsal.
"Good job," Jenny tells the girls.
During the practice, Jamie and Cutsforth pause to rework an ending. Even after recording the CD, remembering all the particulars can be difficult, Jenny notes.
The music starts again with Jamie and Cutsforth strumming guitars. Nearby, Jenny taps her foot. Occasionally, she closes her eyes and sways to the music.
The Smids can't always decide how to classify their sound. Cutsforth, however, finds an appropriate description: Believable. The family, he says, produces authentic music that is fun and spiritual.
"They walk the walk. They just exemplify their beliefs in everything they do."
Contact Karen Heinselman
at (319) 291-1581 or
karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.
Jenny grew up singing with her parents, Dennis and Debby Stickfort, in Dunkerton. Encouraged by his folks in West Union, Jamie Smid picked up a guitar as a teen and never let go.
Years later, they met, and music played a memorable role in their budding relationship. According to Jenny, Jamie was quite romantic.
"He would sing love songs to me and look into my eyes, and I melted," she says.
Today, making music --- an eclectic mix of gospel, bluegrass and country --- remains an integral part of their lives and an activity the Jenny and Jamie Smid share with their three daughters.
"It's just our little family hobby," Jamie says. "It's a great stress-reliever."
Jamie may pick up the guitar after a day's work running Computer Troubleshooters in Waterloo. Jenny and the girls --- Katie, 8, and Michelle, 5, --- lend their voices. Emmy, just 2, observes the fun.
Jenny defers to Jamie.
"I back him up," she says. "He's the lead singer."
Jamie won't let that stand, though. His wife sang publicly long before he came along to join in.
"She does fine," Jamie says. "I tell her all the time she does great."
The Smids have shared their music with others for five years. The family performs at churches by invitation and at regular gospel music events in Dunkerton and Hudson.
"It kind of grew from there," Jamie says.
The family also recently performed at a steel guitar show in Wisconsin. The Smids plan to return Friday evening to Dunkerton Days and will make an appearance at a gospel sing July 26 in Pella. Next month, they will play at a family music festival at Lake Itasca in Minnesota.
The Smid family finished their first CD in May after six months of work. The project, a fun but challenging effort, followed encouragement from family and friends, according to Debby Stickfort.
"They got their wings stretched publicly, and people just encouraged them," she says.
Michael Cutsforth of Waterloo, owner of MC Audio, recorded, mixed and produced the CD. The Smids worked with Cutsforth years earlier while recording songs with Jenny's parents.
Cutsforth says he almost fell out of his chair at the sound of Jamie's voice.
"He is the real deal when it comes to bluegrass and gospel," Cutsforth says.
And Jenny "sings so sweet and so pure," he adds.
The title of the CD, "He Satisfies," refers to the Smids' Christian faith and the reason they sing. The Smids offer a version of a familiar hymn, "Just As I Am," and also newer songs, like "Far Side Banks of Jordan," by artist Terry Smith.
"My faith is very, very important to me," Jamie says. "To be able to sing about Christ is wonderful."
"It adds power to the song," Jenny adds.
Katie and Michelle team up for three songs on the CD. And at a family practice this spring, the oldest girls sing along to other hymns and religious songs.
Katie offers a solo, exuding confidence. Michelle remembers her part, too. On one song, she belts out "fret not" at all the right parts. Emmy stands in the middle of the rehearsal.
"Good job," Jenny tells the girls.
During the practice, Jamie and Cutsforth pause to rework an ending. Even after recording the CD, remembering all the particulars can be difficult, Jenny notes.
The music starts again with Jamie and Cutsforth strumming guitars. Nearby, Jenny taps her foot. Occasionally, she closes her eyes and sways to the music.
The Smids can't always decide how to classify their sound. Cutsforth, however, finds an appropriate description: Believable. The family, he says, produces authentic music that is fun and spiritual.
"They walk the walk. They just exemplify their beliefs in everything they do."
Contact Karen Heinselman
at (319) 291-1581 or
karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.
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marialatina wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:39 PM: