Richard Smallwood, the eight-time Grammy-nominated gospel singer and songwriter, has died. He was 77.
His family announced his passing on the artist’s official Instagram page on Wednesday (Dec. 31).
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“We are grateful for the overwhelming love and support during this difficult time,” the statement read. “Your tributes are a testament to Richard’s reach and impact. Please continue to keep his family, friends, the music community, and all those affected by this loss in your prayers.”
Smallwood died on Tuesday (Dec. 30) from complications related to kidney failure at the Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Ashton-Sandy Spring, Maryland, his representative told Variety.
Born on Nov. 30, 1948, in Atlanta and raised in Washington, D.C., Smallwood was brought up by his mother and stepfather, the pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church. He began playing the piano at age 5 and formed his first gospel group by age 11. He later attended Howard University, where he earned a degree in music and became a member of the school’s first gospel ensemble, the Celestials.
After graduating from Howard, Smallwood founded the Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977. The group —featuring Dottie Jones, Jackie Ruffin and Darlene Simmons — released the 1984 album Psalms, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. The project earned the group its first Grammy nomination for best soul gospel performance by a duo or group.
After releasing five albums with the Richard Smallwood Singers, Smallwood disbanded the act in the early 1990s and went on to form a large backing choir known as Vision. The choir accompanied him on numerous albums through 2015, including the Gospel Albums chart-toppers Journey: Live in New York (2007), Promises (2011), and Anthology: Live (2015).
Their song “Trust Me,” which reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart, earned Smallwood his final Grammy nomination in 2012.
Over the course of a five-decade career, Smallwood established himself as a towering figure in gospel music as a vocalist, pianist and songwriter. His work earned him a total of eight Grammy nominations, along with numerous Dove and Stellar Awards.
Smallwood also wrote songs that were later recorded by other major artists. Whitney Houston recorded “I Love the Lord” for her 1996 film The Preacher’s Wife, while Destiny’s Child performed “Total Praise” as part of a gospel medley in 2007. Boyz II Men also sang a portion of the song on their 1997 album, Evolution.
In 2019, Smallwood released the book Total Praise: The Autobiography, named after his signature song.
In later years, the artist battled mild dementia and other health issues that kept him from recording new music, according to People.
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