True icons don’t just make music; they create the atmosphere for our lives. While the world said a physical goodbye to gospel legend Richard Smallwood on December 30th, his genius is still very much alive in every choir rehearsal, every Sunday morning, and every soul-stirring harmony heard across Atlanta.”
Born in Atlanta and raised in the DMV, Richard Smallwood didn’t just play music – he lived it.
Smallwood had always been a musical prodigy- even at an early age. By the age of 5, he’d learned to play piano by ear, and he’d already formed his own gospel choir by the age of 11. When it was time for college, Smallwood headed to Howard University to study Classical Vocal Performance and Piano. But he wasn’t just there to study the greats- he was there to join them. Not only did he join Howard’s first Gospel group- “The Celestials”, but he became a founding member of the internationally accredited Howard University Gospel Choir.
After college graduation, Smallwood was unstoppable. Richard Smallwood started teaching music privately at the Washington School of Music, the DC Public School System, and the University of Maryland. Launching the ‘Richard Smallwood Singers’ in 1977, he blended a fresh, contemporary vibe with classic gospel roots. Their debut in 1982 spent over 80 weeks on the “Billboard Magazine” Spiritual Charts and included the classic “I Love The Lord,” which Whitney Houston later recorded for the movie “The Preacher’s Wife.”
Aubrey Jordan-Yarbrough, a freshman Honors Political Science Major at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, grew up in a religious and musically inclined household, so Richard Smallwood was no stranger. “Overall, I understood his impact on the gospel music genre from a very early age. His masterful blend of classical, soul, and gospel was unique and provided a new type of sound. Through his orchestration, a story was being told, and that is what differentiated him from any other musical artists.”
The name Richard Smallwood became recognized worldwide, with his group even traveling all over the US and Europe and being the first gospel group to perform in the Soviet Union before its collapse. By 1996, He emerged with his brand new choir, Vision, performing many songs that would define Smallwood’s career, including “Total Praise” and “Angels.” “Total Praise,” now considered a classic, has been sung in different languages throughout the world and was sung for Pope Francis when he was hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House in 2015.
According to a 2015 interview by The Washington Post, Smallwood said that he felt inspired to write Total Praise when he felt left by God. “I was trying to write a pity-party song, but God pulled me to do a praise song. God said, “I want your praise no matter what situation you are in, good or bad.’ It’s about trusting him.”
He bridged the gap between Sunday morning worship and mainstream stardom, proving that a great song can resonate just as much in church as on any soundtrack. Smallwood’s songs were performed and recorded over the years by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Destiny’s Child, and Boyz II Men.
Johnny Daniels, a freshman at Clayton State University studying Music Education, says even before he knew Smallwood’s name, he knew the sound and feeling his music carried.“Growing up in church, [Gospel Music] shaped my faith and taught me how to worship and express when I feel words aren’t enough. Gospel Music didn’t just influence me; it helped raise me.”
Smallwood received numerous honors over his career, including earning a Master of Divinity from Howard University in 2004, eight Grammy nominations, a 2006 induction into the Gospel Hall of Fame, a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from former President Joe Biden, and much more.
But Smallwood’s impact goes way beyond trophies and titles. His music isn’t just history- it’s a living, breathing movement that continues to take center stage. On January 14th, the Howard University Gospel Choir, along with members of the Metropolitan Baptist Church, performed a few songs to honor the life and legacy of Richard Smallwood at the U.S. Capitol. “… Because a life like the one he lived in truth does not end, it echoes.” Senator Raphael Warnock stated as he introduced the performance.
Whether you grew up listening to Richard Smallwood, knew of him through church, or just learned about him, his message stayed the same: creating music that invites listeners into spiritual guidance and brings people closer to God through life’s most difficult challenges.
Daniels says, “His music showed me that gospel can be both deeply spiritual and musically excellent, and it continues to inspire how I approach worship and music today.”
