Richard Smallwood (1948 – 2025)

Their Story

Richard Smallwood was one of the most influential voices in contemporary gospel music, a composer and pianist whose songs of faith became staples in churches and concert halls around the world. Across a career spanning more than five decades, he bridged classical music, traditional Black church traditions, and modern gospel sounds, creating music that resonated deeply with believers and artists alike. His works — especially timeless pieces like “Total Praise” and “I Love the Lord” — helped define a generation of gospel expression and continue to uplift millions. Wikipedia +1 Born Richard Lee Smallwood on November 30, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia, he showed musical talent at a very early age. Playing piano by ear at just five, he formed his first gospel group by age eleven — a hint of the profound influence he would later have on the genre. His family relocated to Washington, D.C., where his stepfather served as a pastor, immersing young Smallwood in the rhythms and passions of church life. Wikipedia Smallwood’s path led him to Howard University, where he graduated cum laude with degrees in classical vocal performance and piano before returning for advanced studies in ethnomusicology. While at Howard, he was a founding member of the school’s first gospel choir and also performed with The Celestials, a gospel ensemble that brought Black spiritual music to international stages. Wikipedia In 1977, Smallwood formed the Richard Smallwood Singers, a group that quickly drew acclaim for its rich harmonies and spiritual depth. Their self-titled 1982 debut spent an extraordinary 87 weeks on the Billboard gospel chart, and its follow-up Psalms earned a Grammy nomination, launching Smallwood’s national prominence. Wikipedia Smallwood’s music was both technically superb and spiritually profound. Songs like “Center of My Joy” and “What He’s Done for Me” became beloved gospel standards, while “I Love the Lord” — recorded by Whitney Houston for The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack — brought his work to global audiences. His 1996 composition “Total Praise” has become one of the most widely performed gospel anthems of all time, sung from small congregations to major choirs and even in secular settings, touching listeners’ hearts with its message of trust and surrender. Wikipedia Over the years, Smallwood formed the larger ensemble Vision, with whom he continued to record and perform, influencing choirs and worship leaders worldwide. He was nominated for eight Grammy Awards, won multiple Dove and Stellar Awards, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006. EW.com Despite health challenges later in life, including kidney issues and dementia, Smallwood’s faith and music remained central. He spent his final years receiving care in Sandy Spring, Maryland, where he died on December 30, 2025, at the age of 77 from complications of kidney failure. The news of his passing was met with widespread mourning in the gospel and music communities, with tributes highlighting not only his artistic brilliance but his legacy of spiritual encouragement and uplift. People.com Richard Smallwood never married but was survived by his extended family, including siblings, nieces, nephews, and godchildren who carry forward his legacy of devotion, generosity, and musical excellence.