Leonard Smith
Background information
Birth nameLeonard Earl Smith Jr.
Also known asLenny Smith
Born (1942-08-29) August 29, 1942
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genresgospel, folk, pop, contemporary Christian
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter, music publisher
Instrument(s)Guitar, voice
Years active1965 - present
LabelsGreat Comfort Records
Websitegreatcomfortrecords.com

Leonard Smith (born August 29, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and music publisher.[1]

His style of gospel-centered songs range from pop to folk to gospel. Smith is best known in Christian music circles for writing the international worship standard "Our God Reigns"[2][3] in 1973.[4]

Early life and education

Leonard Earl Smith Jr. was born in 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Naval Hospital. He is the only son and second child of a career military father (U.S. Marine Corps) and a Catholic mother. Their family moved frequently, living in Philadelphia, Virginia, California, North Carolina, Guam, and finally settled in South Jersey.

Smith was raised Protestant even though his mother was a devout Catholic. His mother Marie would attend mass each Sunday but drop her three children off at the local Protestant church at the insistence of her non-religious husband. When he was 12, his father left the family, and he started to attend the Catholic church with his mother. He became fascinated by Catholicism and entered the seminary after high school to study for the priesthood in 1960.

In 1960, Smith left New Jersey and entered Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary in Menominee, Michigan. He then attended Mount St. Paul Seminary in Waukesha, Wisconsin. His last four years of study were spent at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary[5] in Emmitsburg, MD., where he studied for the Catholic priesthood. He received his B.A. in Classical Philosophy in 1965. He pursued a master's in English Literature at Villanova, but never completed it.

In 1968, Smith left the seminary and taught high school at Paul VI High School[6] in Haddon Township, NJ. He was a guidance counselor for the freshman class. At the end of the year, he was asked to leave; the reason given by the principal was a strained working relationship. Earlier in the year, a freshman girl's grades dropped from straight A's to D's and Lenny called her into his office to see what was going on. After finding out that the girl was being sexually abused by the science teacher, Smith addressed the issue with the principal, forcing him to dismiss the science teacher. At the end of the year, Smith was also dismissed.

In 1969, Smith taught religion at Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester, NJ. He enjoyed this, but wanted to teach at a public school, so the following year he taught Latin and English at Cinnaminson High School[7] in Cinnaminson, NJ.

During this time he became involved with the Charismatic Movements and had a dramatic spiritual awakening. He then decided to teach his regular course material Monday through Thursday, but taught the Bible every Friday, even though many of the children attending this public school were Jewish. After a few weeks, several parents complained; he continued the Bible teaching and at the end of the year, he was let go.

In 1970, he returned to Gloucester Catholic High School, teaching religion. As well as teaching the standard curriculum, he brought his guitar to class, sang, prayed, and read the Bible. Once a month, he held a prayer gathering in town for his students. The priests were worried he was starting a cult and at the end of the year, Smith was let go.

Smith started painting houses and taking on carpentry jobs. In 1972, he started teaching religion at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Cherry Hill, NJ. He continued to bring his guitar to class and led mass in the chapel. The head of the religion department refused to let him teach that Jesus was the only Messiah and wanted Smith to teach that there were many messiahs, like Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. When Smith refused, he was forced to resign.

He went back to painting houses and eventually expanded to remodeling and building houses. For the next 35 years, he worked on houses by day, writing songs at night and leading worship on Sundays at various churches.

Music career

Early career

In 1965, at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, Smith started writing songs for the guitar masses that were being introduced at the seminary. The first song he wrote was called, "The New Jerusalem". He introduced several songs in the chapel. In 1967, Smith left the seminary, but continued to lead mass at different Catholic churches.

In 1969, Smith and his wife Marian became involved in th Catholic Charismatic Movement, which involved expressive worship, dancing, and speaking in tongues. In 1970, they attended a Protestant Charismatic Church in Philadelphia called The Gospel Temple, which was a multi-cultural church lead by Pastor John Poole. An off-shoot was formed in New Jersey called, the "Living Word Community," where Smith led worship for two years. Smith resigned over concerns about the church's embrace of the doctrine and practice of "shepherding," also called "discipling." this pyramid-like leadership model later collapsed.

Our God Reigns

In 1973, Smith was out of work and mildly depressed. One morning he read Isaiah 52:7[8] from the Bible, "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news...." He was so moved and encouraged by the passage that he wrote "Our God Reigns" in five minutes—one verse and the chorus.[9]

Bob Mumford, a traveling evangelist, visited The Living Word in NJ and heard Smith sing "Our God Reigns." Mumford loved the song and taught it at each church and conference he visited all over the world during the next couple of years. An Australian company, Scripture in Song, released a songbook 1979 called "Scripture in Song Volume I"[10] which included two of Smith's songs—"Our God Reigns" (which they entitled "How Lovely on the Mountains") and "City O City".[11] This songbook was sold and brought world-wide attention to these songs. A Catholic Prayer community[12] in Ann Arbor, MI. also released a songbook[13] and album which brought much attention to the song.

"Our God Reigns" became very popular in England.[14] A pastor in England decided to add additional Scripture verses to the song, which at the time only had one verse. Smith contacted him, asking him not to add additional verses and the pastor insisted he would anyway. To this day, in the UK the version[15] of "Our God Reigns" is known with the pastor's additional verses.[16] This motivated Smith to write the next four verses which took a couple of years to finish. "Our God Reigns" is still being used and circulated today around the world. It has been recorded on over 55 albums and printed in 35 songbooks and hymnals and exists in over 20 languages.

Many popular Christian artists have covered "Our God Reigns" including Phil Driscoll,[17] Evie Tornquist,[18] John Michael Talbot,[19] The Gaithers,[20] Dana,[21] LifeWay, and Word.[1][4] In 2010, "Our God Reigns" was sung during the Papal Mass[22] for Pope Benedict XVI in Bellahouston Park.[23] It was a favorite of Pope John Paul II and was used during his visit[24][25] in 1999 to North America and during a few of his convocations in South America.

In 2010, "Our God Reigns" was sung for the Papal Procession at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland.

Papal Procession

In 2010, "Our God Reigns" was sung for the Papal Procession at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland.[26] Evie[27] also sang the song at a Papal Mass in the UK.

Broadening His Ministry

In 1969 Smith became involved with the Catholic Charismatics. He would intermingle with the Protestant Charismatics and the Pentecostals at this time because the groups were interested in the same things. He visited The Gospel Temple, a Protestant charismatic church in Philadelphia, and that became his church home for the next several years.

Musical style

Smith is known for his smooth voice and his folk-style guitar playing. His songs are an equal mix of country/folk/and rock filled with scripture and are known for their simplicity, singability, and joy. Smith plays a 1969 Gibson J-45 guitar which he bought brand-new in 1969.

Personal life

Smith married his wife Marian in 1970. He and Marian have five children - Daniel, Rachel, Megan, David, and Andrew. Their oldest son Daniel formed the band "Danielson Famile"[28] or "Danielson" in which all five children perform. Daniel also started a record label called Sounds Familyre Records.[29] Their eldest daughter Rachel[30] also writes and records worship music on Great Comfort Records.[31]

After retiring from carpentry, he is still working with his music and his label Great Comfort Records[32] and his publishing company New Jerusalem Music.[1]

Discography

Albums

Leonard Smith Albums
ALBUMS YEAR RECORD LABEL PRODUCER
Deep Calls To Deep Oct. 2001 Great Comfort Records Daniel C. Smith
Who Was And Is And Is To Come Jan. 2013 Great Comfort Records Daniel C. Smith
You Are My Hiding Place Nov. 2016 Great Comfort Records Daniel C. Smith

References

  1. 1 2 3 "New Jerusalem Music". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Our God Reigns (How lovely on the mountains)". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Tune: OUR GOD REIGNS". Hymnary.org. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Our God Reigns: A Worship Song Story : Song Writing". songfacts.com. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Mount St. Mary's Seminary". seminary.msmary.edu. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Home". pvihs.org. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Cinnaminson High School". chs.cinnaminson.com. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Bible Gateway passage: Isaiah 52:7 – New International Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Our God Reigns: A Worship Song Story". www.songfacts.com.
  10. ↑ "Scripture in Song – Songs of Praise – Volume 1". godsongs.net. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  11. ↑ City, O City- Lenny Smith (Official Song), retrieved December 22, 2019
  12. ↑ "The Word of God Community". The Word of God Community. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Store". The Word of God Community. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Lenny Smith: Writer of "Our God Reigns", influencer of Danielson Famile - Lenny Smith". crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  15. ↑ Songs of Praise at Christ Church Billericay 1982 (3) Virginia Smith - Our God Reigns, retrieved December 22, 2019
  16. ↑ "Christian Gospel Worship Song Lyrics with Chords - Our God Reigns". traditionalmusic.co.uk. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  17. ↑ Donald Gordon Jr (October 4, 2016), Phil Driscoll - Our God Reigns, retrieved December 30, 2017
  18. ↑ Evie Tornquist; "Our God Reigns" & "He The Pearly Gates Will Open", June 12, 2010, retrieved December 30, 2017
  19. ↑ John Michael Talbot - Topic (October 17, 2015), Our God Reigns, retrieved December 30, 2017
  20. ↑ Bill & Gloria Gaither - Our God Reigns [Live] ft. Bob Cain, November 8, 2012, retrieved December 30, 2017
  21. ↑ "Dana (9) - In The Palm Of His Hand". discogs. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  22. ↑ John O'Connor (September 17, 2010), Our God Reigns, retrieved December 30, 2017
  23. ↑ "Scottish Catholic Education Service | SCES | Music for Papal Mass at Bellahouston". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  24. ↑ Our God Reigns, retrieved December 22, 2019
  25. ↑ "Evie & Pelle Karlsson - Our God Reigns (High)". Retrieved December 22, 2019 – via Vimeo.
  26. ↑ John O'Connor (September 17, 2010), Our God Reigns, retrieved January 1, 2018
  27. ↑ Evie & Pelle Karlsson "Our God Reigns", retrieved December 22, 2019
  28. ↑
  29. ↑ "SoundsFamilyre". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Rachel | Great Comfort Records". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Discography | Great Comfort Records". greatcomfortrecords.com. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Great Comfort Records". Retrieved December 22, 2019.
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