Richard Smallwood | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 30, 1948 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Origin | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, music director, pianist, arranger |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels | Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound, Sparrow, Word, Capitol, Jive, Verity |
Richard Smallwood (born November 30, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American gospel artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, D.C.
Richard Smallwood graduated cum laude from Howard University with a dual B.A. degree in classical vocal performance and piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of ethnomusicology. [1] 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, Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard, and many more. He accompanied opera legend Leontyne Price 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 on "Journey," Kelly Price on "Morning's Breaking," Chaka Khan 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. [2] Aretha Franklin and The Clark Sisters would contribute to additional studio tracks to appear on the album. [3]
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 in the film, The Preacher's Wife . [4]
The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Smallwood has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and has also won 4 awards from 19 nominations. [5] [6] [7]
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Inspiration Black Gospel Album of the Year | Richard Smallwood Singers | Nominated |
| 1985 | Contemporary Black Gospel Album of the Year | Pslams | Nominated |
| 1988 | Textures | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration | Won | |
| Testimony | Nominated | ||
| Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "T'will Be Sweet" | Won | |
| Contemporay Black Gospel Recorded Sonf od the Year | "What He's Done For Me" | Nominated | |
| 1994 | Contemporary Black Gospel Album of the Year | Live at Howard University | Nominated |
| Contemporary Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "In The Shelter" | Nominated | |
| Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2000 | Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | Healing - Live in Detroit | Won |
| Contemporary Gospel Recording of the Year | "Holy Thou Art God" | Nominated | |
| Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "Highest Praise" | Nominated | |
| "Healing" | Nominated | ||
| 2002 | "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)" | Nominated | |
| Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | Persuaded - Live in D.C. | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Gospel Music Hall of Fame | Himself | Inducted |
| 2012 | Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | Promises | Won |
| 2024 | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year | "Center of My Joy" | Nominated |
| 2025 | Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "When I Think (Radio Edit / Live)" | Pending |
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Smallwood has been nominated 8 times. [8]
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group | Psalm | Nominated |
| 1989 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male | "You Did It All" | Nominated |
| 1991 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Portrait | Nominated |
| 1993 | Testimony | Nominated | |
| 1994 | Live | Nominated | |
| 2002 | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | Persuaded - Live in DC | Nominated |
| 2005 | The Praise & Worship Songs | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Best Gospel Song | "Trust Me" | Nominated |
The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Smallwood has been nominated once.
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Gospel Artist, Traditional | Himself | Nominated |
The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Smallwood has received 1 honorary award as well as 6 awards from 29 nominations. [9] [10]
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Best Group/Duo - Contemporary | Testimony | Nominated |
| 2000 | Choir of the Year | Healing - Live in Detroit | Won |
| Traditional Choir of the Year | Won | ||
| Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||
| Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Music Video of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Song of the Year | "Healing" | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Producer of the Year | Mountain High... Valley Low | Nominated |
| 2003 | Traditional CD of the Year | Persuaded. Live in DC | Won |
| Traditional Choir of the Year | Won | ||
| Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Choir of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Music Video of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Producer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Song of the Year | "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)" | Nominated | |
| 2005 | James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award | Himself | Honored |
| 2008 | Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year | Journey: Live in New York | Won |
| 2013 | Choir of the Year | Promises | Nominated |
| Traditional Choir of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Choir of the Year | Anthology Live | Nominated |
| Praise and Worship CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Special Event CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Traditional Choir of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
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