Richard Smallwood (born November 30, 1948, in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

) is an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, D.C.

Education and career

Richard Smallwood graduated cum laude from

Howard University Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...

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 on Howard University's campus. That group was the first gospel act to appear at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival. Smallwood was also a founding member of Howard'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. Two years later the album ''Textures'' was also nominated. ''Textures'' spawned the now-classic "Center Of My Joy" written by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither. Smallwood won his first Grammy, along with a Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones' gospel project '' Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration''. Smallwood's music has been recorded by artists such as

Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...

Yolanda Adams Yolanda Yvette Adams (born August 27, 1961) is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time, having sold over 10 million albu ...

, Karen Clark-Sheard, and many more. He accompanied opera legend

Leontyne Price Leontyne Price ( born Mary Violet Leontine Price February 10, 1927) is an American spinto soprano who was the first African-American soprano to receive international acclaim. From 1961 she began a long association with the Metropolitan Opera. ...

at a White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration. Smallwood, with his current group Vision, has recorded several successful projects for Verity records. 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. Smallwood's next project was recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York. The concert features guests

Kim Burrell Kimberly Jean Burrell (born August 26, 1972) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and pastor from Houston, Texas. Early life Born Kimberly Jean Burrell on August 26, 1972, in Houston, Texas, Burrell was one of four children born to Juli ...

on "Journey,"

Kelly Price Kelly Cherelle Price (born April 4, 1973) is an American R&B and gospel singer. Beginning her career in 1992, Price originally performed backing vocals for Mariah Carey on multiple songs, including Carey's ''Billboard'' Hot 100-number one sin ...

on "Morning's Breaking,"

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

on "Precious Is Your Name," as well as The Hawkins Family, Tramaine Hawkins, and the original roster of singers who comprised The Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision.

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

and

The Clark Sisters The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group originally consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm (born 1948), Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford (born 1953), Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark (born 1954), Dorinda Clark-Cole (born 1957), ...

would contribute to additional studio tracks to appear 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 Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, film producer, model, and philanthropist. Commonly referred to as "Honorific nicknames in popular music, the Voice", she is List of awards and no ...

in the film, ''

The Preacher's Wife ''The Preacher's Wife'' is a 1996 American Christmas fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Penny Marshall and starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston (in her last film released during her lifetime), and Courtney B. Vance. It is a remake of ...

''.

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 & Recognitions

* Received the Stellar Awards' James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. * Received an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music from the Richmond Virginia Seminary in May 2006. * Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame at the Richland Country Club in Nashville, TN on November 14, 2006. * Received the Howard University Distinguished Achievement Award.

Grammy, Stellar & NAACP Image Award Nominations

* 1984: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Duo or Group - Richard Smallwood Singers: "Psalms" * 1988: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Richard Smallwood: "You Did It All" * 1990: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Portrait' * 1991: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Testimony" * 1993: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Live" * 2001: Grammy Nomination, Best Traditional Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood with Vision: "Persuaded: Live in DC" * 2011: Grammy Nomination, Best Gospel Song, "Trust Me" * 2001: NAACP Image Award Nomination for Best Gospel Artist, Traditional - ''Persuaded: Live in DC'' * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Artist Of The Year - ''Persuaded: Live in DC; Verity'' * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Song Of The Year - "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)"; Verity * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Choir Of The Year - ''Persuaded: Live in DC'' * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Producer Of The Year - ''Persuaded: Live in DC'' * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Male Vocalist Of The Year - ''Persuaded: Live in DC'' * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for CD Of The Year - ''Persuaded: Live in DC'' * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - ''Persuaded: Live in DC'' * 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Music Video of the Year - ''Persuaded: Live in DC'' * 2016: Stellar Award Nomination for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - ''Anthology Live'' * 2016: Stellar Award Nomination for Traditional Choir of the Year - ''Anthology Live'' * 2016: Stellar Award Nomination for Choir of the Year - ''Anthology Live'' * 2016: Stellar Award Nomination for Special Event CD of the Year - ''Anthology Live'' * 2016: Stellar Award Nomination for Praise and Worship CD of the Year - ''Anthology Live''

Stellar Award Wins

* 1992: Stellar Award for Best Group/Duo - Contemporary ''– Testimony'' * 2000: Stellar Award for Choir of the Year - ''Healing – Live in Detroit'' * 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - ''Healing – Live in Detroit'' * 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Choir of the Year - ''Healing – Live in Detroit'' * 2002: Stellar Award for Traditional CD of the Year - ''Persuaded – Live in DC '' * 2002: Stellar Award for Traditional Choir of the Year - ''Persuaded – Live in DC''

References

External links

Richard Smallwood
on

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- (Official Richard Smallwood Site) *
Richard Smallwood Awards
* Richard Smallwood Chart Historyon ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

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Photos of Smallwood's ''Journey'' Concert from Landru Design
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smallwood, Richard 1948 births Living people American gospel singers African-American Christians Howard University alumni Musicians from Atlanta 20th-century African-American male singers 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century African-American male singers 21st-century American male singers