Gospel music maestro Richard Smallwood dies

Iconic gospel singer, songwriter and recording artist Richard Smallwood died on December 30 in a Maryland nursing home. It was his family who announced the news via social networks. He was 77 years old. The pianist and choir director died of kidney failure.

A beloved son of Washington, DC

While Smallwood was born in Atlanta, he was raised by his mother, Mabel, and stepfather, Rev. Chester Lee “CL Smallwood, in the nation’s capital. Rev. Smallwood was the pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church in the southeastern part of the district.

His connection with music began when he was five years old, playing the piano by ear. At age seven, he began formal lessons and joined his first gospel group as a preteen. After graduating from McKinley Technical High School, Smallwood went to Howard University. There, he became a founding member of the Howard University Gospel Choir and a member of the Celestial Singers before graduating with honors.

Her debut album spent 87 weeks on the Billboard charts

Inspired by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, the composer and arranger formed the Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977. They were signed to Onyx Records, a division of Benson Records, in 1982. The group’s self-titled debut album topped Billboard Spiritual Albums sales for months. Two years later, the group was up for their first Grammy for Psalms.

In 1987, one of Smallwood’s most beloved songs, “Center of My Joy,” was released on the album “Textures.” The song made the composer a crossover sensation. In the 1990s he formed Richard Smallwood and Vision, which included a larger chorus. Throughout the 90s and early 2000s, the group released four albums and several well-known hits. They include “I’ll Trust You,” “Angels,” and “Total Praise.”

Whitney Houston sang a version of “I love the Lord » in the movie The pastor’s wifeand Destiny’s Child released a live version of “Total praise” in 2001.

Total praise was a very personal song for the artist as it reflected the composer’s fight against depression.

The Washington Post reported that “Total Praise,” released in 1996 with his gospel group Vision, was inspired by his experience caring for his mother, who had dementia, and a family friend who had cancer. Mr. Smallwood said he decided to “write a pity song,” but found himself praising God instead, creating lyrics that reaffirmed his faith in a moment of despair.

Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award nominations

In total, the contemporary gospel maestro has received eight Grammy Award nominations. He received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the Stellar Awards. And his most recent Dove appointment was this year as co-writer; Ricky Dillard “When I think” was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Smallwood has not performed or recorded as much in recent years because he also suffered from mild dementia and several other health problems.