Member of Note. July 2025

Brothers and Sisters in Harmony,

Let me introduce you to a man of many talents and extensive experience in Barbershop Singing. Lee Smith sings lead in our beautiful chapter. Lee has been performing barbershop since 1960! He began in Eureka, CA. First, let me backtrack to his younger years. Lee lived in Vermont and sang in choruses and glee clubs during high school. Lee has always loved to sing; his mother was a pianist at her church, and Lee would stand by the piano and sing as she played from a very young age, around five years old.

After moving to California, Lee attended Reedley College, where he participated in various programs. His next educational endeavor was at the University of Pacific in Stockton, CA. While attending U.O.P., Lee worked as a dishwasher at the “Punch and Judy” restaurant to help pay for his college tuition.

After graduating from the University of Pacific, Lee sought work in communications. He took what money he had and traveled to Eureka. He applied for a job at KEIM Radio Station. He was offered work as a DJ, working four hours in the morning and four in the afternoon. That was fine; however, Lee wanted to cover sports, but they wanted him to do sales. Lee wasn’t interested in sales, so he declined. But he needed the money, so he accepted the offer. He did learn to like sales, which he excels at to this day.

There was a chapter in Eureka in the Evergreen District that had died. However, working at a TV and radio station provided a venue for meetings of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A Inc. Thus, the Humboldt Harmonaires chapter was formed in Eureka, CA. This was Lee’s project, as he was essentially the catalyst for its formation along with Wes Langholtz, and the chapter is still active and singing to this day. This is where Lee sang in a quartet called the Foamy Four.

The Chapter in Redding was started by Lee back in 1963 before moving to the San Joaquin Valley and the next phase of life in Fresno, where Lee sang with the Gold Note Chorus.

Life then became very busy with business ventures and everything that comes with them. Due to his business commitments, he dropped out of Barbershop for 20 years. Lee moved to Visalia and has been singing with the marvelous Mighty Oak Chorus since. Lee’s old quartet had a reunion, you might say. The Foamy Four had a gig with the Eureka group, and he was hooked again by those tight chords and harmonies.

Lee is blessed to be married to Sherry, his lovely wife of 35 years. Sherry attends meetings in support of this wonderful hobby. She and the other women are a great help and encouragement to us all. We salute you, Lee Smith. You are a great asset to MOC, the Member of Note!