The Singing Fireman

"I come from a singing family," David Smith, said. "Daddy and Mama did a little vaudeville." Coming from such a background, it was only natural for Smith to grow up with a song in his heart and on his lips. "I sang in the Dancyville (Tennessee) Methodist Church all my life," he said. He is a baritone with an extremely wide range - including lead and tenor. However, as Smith grew into his teen years, he began to rebel and turned away from church and his singing.

He worked as a volunteer firefighter, one of the loves of his life," and as an arc welder. By the time he turned 18, Smith was married and a father. His 17- year marriage finally dissolved. "Everything I'd done my way was wrong," Smith said. "I hated my job. I hated my life. I hated people. And I hated my marriage. Suddenly, he found himself 37 years old, owned a pickup truck and had a few clothes. "I knew there had to be something better," he said.

In 1998, he became a fulltime, professional firefighter, and he decided to re-enter the singing

world. He decided that he wanted to give his life to God and use his singing as a ministry. Smith said he felt God saying to him, "Here's the key. Follow me and I'll show you where you want to go."

"I had the job of my dreams, and was singing again," he said. He began attending and singing at church. Then , he met Nancy, soon to be his wife. "Nancy is my second chance at getting life right. She's the prayer warrier behind my ministry." he said.

For a short while he was part of a local quartet (For His Glory.) He learned a lot about singing while he was with the quartet, he said. After a few years, one of the four was called to preach and Smith felt he should go back to the solo form of music. He uses the words of the music as his testimomy. "I've never had voice or singing lessons," he said.

Everything I do is natural. God gave it to me." He sings at churches, nursing homes, and retirement homes and for special invitations.

I believe God is calling me to prepare a demo CD for him," Smith said. "We are praying that once again, if it is God's will, the $4,000 will be provided, confirming God's plan."

"I know that I'm in the right place, now," he said. "I read the Bible every day and I let Him (God) speak through me." Smith says he recognizes people struggling with giving in to GOD. He sees their whire nuckles, as they fight to resist God's call in their lives. He feels the words of his music speak to the reticent souls, and God has a chance to work with them.

"I love my job as a firefighter, and it's only natural that I've always neen called "The Singing Firefighter." He said signing is his passion and firefighting his hobby. Being a firefighter is so natural that he used that line on his business card - Singing Praises to the Lord, Putting Out the Fires of Hell.