Richard Smallwood: Grammy Winning Legendary Gospel Musician Passed Away at 77

Richard Smallwood, the legendary gospel composer and pianist known for his Grammy nominations and awards, has died at the age of 77.

Richard Smallwood: Grammy Winning Legendary Gospel Musician Passed Away at 77
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Richard Smallwood, the legendary gospel composer and pianist known for his Grammy nominations and awards, has died at the age of 77.

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Richard Smallwood, a world-class gospel composer, musical director, pianist, and arranger has passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the age of 77.

Smallwood passed away at 12:36 a.m. at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Sandy Spring, Maryland.

The cause of death was complications from kidney failure, a condition that had limited his ability to record and perform in recent years.

The sad news was confirmed by his publicist, Bill Carpenter, to The Washington Post, as well as through an official statement from the family on their verified Instagram account.

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Remembering Richard Smallwood

Richard Lee Smallwood was born on November 30, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and raised primarily in Washington, D.C.

His musical talent was evident early on, as he began playing piano on his own at the age of five and received formal training at the age of seven.

By the age of eleven, Smallwood had formed his first gospel group, demonstrating great musical potential.

One of his teachers in high school was Roberta Flack, before Flack's recording career took off.

Smallwood graduated cum laude from Howard University with a dual B.A. in classical vocal performance and piano.

He also pursued graduate studies in ethnomusicology and earned a master's degree in theology from Howard University in 2004.

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His Brilliant Career and Influence in Gospel Music

Richard Smallwood's recording career began in 1982 with the album "The Richard Smallwood Singers," which spent 87 weeks on the Billboard gospel charts.

He founded The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977, creating a distinctive sound that appealed to young Christian adults.

In the early 1990s, he disbanded the group and formed Vision, a large backing choir that performed on successful albums such as Persuaded: Live In D.C. and Journey: Live In New York.

Smallwood's music has been recorded by many renowned artists, including Destiny's Child, Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard, Boyz II Men, and Stevie Wonder.

His most popular songs include "Total Praise," composed in 1996, and "I Love the Lord," popularized by Whitney Houston in the film The Preacher's Wife.

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Grammy Awards Winning

Richard Smallwood has received eight Grammy Award nominations throughout his illustrious career, a testament to his outstanding contributions to music.

He won his first Grammy Award, along with a Dove Award, for his production work on Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.

His album, Psalms and Textures, was also nominated for a Grammy Award, demonstrating the consistent quality of his work.

His most recent Grammy nomination was in 2012 for the song "Trust Me" in the Best Gospel Song category.

In addition to Grammys, Smallwood has also won several Dove Awards (three) and Stellar Awards (six out of 29 nominations), and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

In 2023, he received the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, solidifying his position as a gospel music icon.