Richard Smallwood, a giant in gospel music whose work extended far beyond church spaces into the mainstream, has died at 77.
A representative confirmed to The Washington Post that Smallwood passed away on Tuesday, December 30, from complications tied to kidney failure at the Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Maryland.
Across a career lasting more than 40 years, Smallwood became celebrated for fusing his classical background with gospel roots, crafting music that was both deeply spiritual and grand in scope. His body of work earned eight Grammy nominations along with multiple Dove and Stellar Awards.
His influence stretched well beyond gospel circles. Whitney Houston notably recorded his song “I Love the Lord” for the 1996 soundtrack of The Preacher’s Wife.
Destiny’s Child later honored him by performing “Total Praise” during their 2007 a cappella “Gospel Medley.”
Born in November 1948 in Atlanta and raised in Washington, D.C., Smallwood’s musical gifts showed early. He started playing piano at just five years old and had already formed his own gospel group by age 11. He went on to attend Howard University, where he earned a music degree and became part of the school’s first gospel ensemble, the Celestials.
In 1977, Smallwood launched the Richard Smallwood Singers. The group signed with Onyx Records in the early 1980s and released their self-titled debut album in 1982, which stayed on the Billboard Spiritual Album Sales chart for an impressive 87 weeks. Their 1984 album, Psalms, brought Smallwood his first Grammy nomination, followed by additional projects and continued acclaim.
By the early 1990s, Smallwood stepped away from the Singers and formed a new choir, Vision. The group released several projects through 2015. Their song “Trust Me” climbed to No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and earned Smallwood his final Grammy nomination in 2012.
In 2019, Smallwood looked back on his journey in his autobiography, Total Praise. In later years, ongoing health issues, including mild dementia, slowed his ability to create new music.
Smallwood is survived by his siblings, nieces, nephews, and godchildren.
