TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Weeks after the death of its founder Robert W. Smith, members of POPulus are working to keep Smith’s memory alive.

Smith was an internationally-renowned educator, composer, conductor, and music publisher. He unexpectedly died on Sep. 21 in Montgomery due to complications following heart surgery.

Today, POPulus members say they hope to continue Smith’s legacy by continuing to entertain audiences and helping students forward their musical careers.

“I’m in a very precarious position of not only being his student but being his daughter, and him being my coach,” said POPulus vocalist Madison Windam. “To see not only the impact that he has on me as a parental figure, but for him to share that with everyone and his authentic-ness being 110% all the time and truly himself. That is what he has displayed for us.”

“He was just a character that we all really enjoyed and honestly made our days better just by going to rehearsal and seeing him there,” said vocalist Grice Davis. “He’d always say some phrase that would stick in our heads, like, you can lead the horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”

“Unspeakable. There’s more than words to describe the impact that Mr. Smith has had,” said POPulus horn player RJ Parker.

For more information about POPulus, visit the group’s Facebook page.