Richard Lee Smallwood (November 30, 1948 – December 30, 2025) was an American gospel songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist. He was best known for blending Traditional Gospel Music, with classical, R&B, soul, choral compositions, and other Christian music genres.

Life and career Richard Smallwood was born in Atlanta on November 30, 1948. He graduated cum laude from Howard University with a dual B.A. degree in classical vocal performance and piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of ethnomusicology. Smallwood was a member of the Celestials, the first gospel group at Howard University. The group was the first gospel act to appear at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival. Smallwood was also a founding member of the university's first gospel choir.

Smallwood's recording career began in 1982 with the album The Richard Smallwood Singers. The album spent 87 weeks on Billboard's gospel chart. Its follow-up, Psalms, was nominated for a Grammy Award. Two years later his Textures album was also nominated. Textures included the song "Center Of My Joy" which was written by Smallwood with Bill and Gloria Gaither. Smallwood won his first Grammy Award, along with a Dove Award, for his production on the Quincy Jones and Mervyn Warren album Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.

Smallwood's music has been recorded by many artists including Destiny's Child, Yolanda Adams, and Karen Clark-Sheard. He accompanied opera singer Leontyne Price at a Christmas celebration at the White House during the Reagan administration. Smallwood, with his group Vision, recorded several successful projects for the Verity label. He finished his master's degree in divinity from Howard University in 2004 and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

One of his concerts was recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York. The concert features guests Kim Burrell on “Journey”, Kelly Price on “Morning's Breaking”, Chaka Khan on “Precious Is Your Name”, as well as the Hawkins Family, Tramaine Hawkins, and the original roster of singers who comprised both the Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision. Aretha Franklin and the Clark Sisters contributed to additional studio tracks on the album.

Among Smallwood's most popular songs are “Total Praise”, composed in 1996 while he was experiencing sorrow in his life, and “I Love the Lord”, popularized by singer Whitney Houston in the film The Preacher's Wife.

Smallwood died in Sandy Spring, Maryland, on December 30, 2025, due to kidney failure, at the age of 77.

Discography

Albums with Union Temple Baptist Church Young Adult Choir Look Up And Live (1974) Give Us Peace (1976)

with Richard Smallwood Singers Richard Smallwood Singers (1982) Psalms (1984) Textures (1987) Vision (1988) Portrait (1990) Testimony (1992) Live at Howard University (1993)

with Vision Adoration: Live in Atlanta (1996) Rejoice (Christmas Project) (1997) Healing: Live in Detroit (1999) Persuaded: Live in D.C. (2001) Journey: Live in New York (2007) Promises (2011) Anthology Live (2015)

Awards and nominations Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Smallwood has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and has also won 4 awards from 19 nominations. Year Award Nominated work Result 1983 Inspiration Black Gospel Album of the Year Richard Smallwood Singers 1985 Contemporary Black Gospel Album of the Year Pslams 1988 Textures 1993 Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration Testimony Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "T'will Be Sweet" Contemporay Black Gospel Recorded Sonf od the Year "What He's Done For Me" 1994 Contemporary Black Gospel Album of the Year Live at Howard University Contemporary Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "In The Shelter" Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year 2000 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Healing - Live in Detroit Contemporary Gospel Recording of the Year "Holy Thou Art God" Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Highest Praise" "Healing" 2002 "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)" Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Persuaded - Live in D.C. 2006 Gospel Music Hall of Fame Himself 2012 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Promises 2024 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year "Center of My Joy" 2025 Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "When I Think (Radio Edit / Live)"

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Smallwood has been nominated 8 times. Year Award Nominated workResult 1985 Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group Psalm 1989 Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male "You Did It All" 1991 Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Portrait 1993 Testimony 1994 Live 2002 Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album Persuaded - Live in DC 2005 The Praise & Worship Songs 2012 Best Gospel Song "Trust Me"

NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Smallwood has been nominated once. Year Award Nominated workResult 2001 Best Gospel Artist, Traditional Himself

Stellar Awards

The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Smallwood has received 1 honorary award as well as 6 awards from 29 nominations. Year Award Nominated workResult 1992 Best Group/Duo - Contemporary Testimony 2000 Choir of the Year Healing - Live in Detroit Traditional Choir of the Year Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year Artist of the Year CD of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year Music Video of the Year Producer of the Year Song of the Year "Healing" 2001 Producer of the Year Mountain High... Valley Low 2003 Traditional CD of the Year Persuaded. Live in DC Traditional Choir of the Year Artist of the Year CD of the Year Choir of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year Music Video of the Year Producer of the Year Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year Song of the Year "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)" 2005 James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award Himself 2008 Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year Journey: Live in New York 2013 Choir of the Year Promises Traditional Choir of the Year 2016 Choir of the Year Anthology Live Praise and Worship CD of the Year Special Event CD of the Year Traditional Choir of the Year Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year

Miscellaneous honors Year Organization Award Nominated work Result Ref. 1997 Howard University Distinguished Achievement Award Himself 2006 Richmond Virginia Seminary Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music 2023 President Joe Biden President's Lifetime Achievement Award

References

External links Richard Smallwood on Myspace - (Official Richard Smallwood Site)

Photos of Smallwood's JourneyConcert from Landru Design

Interview (2024) by the Oral History of American Music (Yale University) Panel Discussion "Music in Mind: Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, and Braxton Shelley in Conversation"; 2024 hosted by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music