Richard Smallwood

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Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Singer, at Sisters Circle Live

Image Courtesy of: Richard Smallwood Facebook Page

Same God




Quick facts about Richard Smallwood

CAREER

Richard Smallwood is an American gospel artist who was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Smallwood founded his music group, The Richard Smallwood Singers in Washington DC in 1977. He is also a composer, song writer, a producer, a music director, a pianist and an arranger.

ACTIVE FROM

1975 - present

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS

8 Grammy Awards, 9 NAACP Image Award Nominations, 4 GMA Dove Awards and 10 Stellar Awards. Inducted into the Gospel Music Life Hall of Fame in 2006




GENRE

Gospel

PLACE OF ORIGIN

Atlanta, Georgia, raised in Washington DC

ALBUMS

2 with Union Temple Baptist Church Young Adult Choir, 8 with Richard Smallwood Singers, 7 with Vision, and 5 Compilation Albums

Early Life

Richard Smallwood was born in Atlanta on November 30, 1948. He moved to Washington DC with his mother, Mabel Smallwood at the age of 10, and his step-father, Rev. Chester L. Smallwood. Smallwood served as a musician and choir director of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Northwest Washington, where he has been a member for over 30 years.

In his early years, Smallwood listened a lot to Ella Fitzgerald which was usually played by his mum. By 7, he was taking music lessons which continued till he was 15. He couldn’t read music but could only play by ear, memorizing the chords.

Richard Smallwood started his first gospel music group when he was 11, with kids from his neighborhood in Northeast Washington. In his eighth grade at Browne Junior High, Smallwood had a new graduate of music major from Howard as his teacher, named Roberta Flack.

Richard Smallwood later attended McKinley Technology high school, where he auditioned for a music program at Howard. The instructor observed that he couldn’t read music, but took him in if he was ready to learn.

Beginning in 1967, Smallwood majored in classical piano, with a minor in voice at Howard. At Howard, Richard Smallwood was mentored by a brilliant music major named Dony Hathaway. Hathaway taught him how to play a jazz version of the hymn, Nothing but the Blood.

A Career in Music

Richard Smallwood obtained cum laude degrees from Howard University in vocal performance and piano. Smallwood was part of “The Celestials”, the first gospel music group in Howard University.  

Smallwood formed Howard’s first gospel choir, which was also when he wrote one of his biggest song hits, I Love the Lord while sitting in a basement in the fine arts department. 

Richard Smallwood graduated from Howard in 1971 and with his music group, they released eight albums between 1982 and 1996. Smallwood began his career in 1982, and his first album, The Richard Smallwood Singers, lasted 87 weeks on Billboard’s Gospel Chart, driven by his previous big hit, I Love the Lord. His album that followed, Psalms, got a Grammy nomination. He released Textures two years after, which also got a Grammy nomination. Richard won his first Grammy Award, with a Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones’ gospel project, Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration. 

He concluded his Master’s degree in Divinity in 2004 from Howard University. One of his most popular songs, Total Praise, was composed in 1996 when he was going through a life crisis, and I Love the Lord, which was made popular by Whitney Houston in the movie, The Preacher’s Wife. 

Richard Smallwood is highly respected for his arguably unique achievement of blending gospel music with classical music with his Album Center of My Joy. Some gospel artists, like Kirk Franklin, achieved fame and success by mixing in hip hop, but Smallwood has remained consistent with his classical music. 

Jacquie Gales Webb, who has been hosting a popular gospel segment on Washington’s WHUR radio for over 20 years says Smallwood’s songs are very unique because of the importance of the piano — not electric piano or keyboard playing, but a grand-piano style. He said, “No matter what genre he’s playing, in his music the piano is the prominent feature. That’s how you know it’s a Richard Smallwood song.” 

Gospel legend, Bobby Jones hosted a one-hour show on BET for almost 4 decades. Jones says “Smallwood’s music is unlike any other artists. You listen for what his words are. You’re going to hear clarity. The audience loves it, and they go into an atmosphere of praising and worship.” 

In August 2015, 2000 persons who had waited for hours filled the Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Md., watching Smallwood and his music group, Vision record his 15th album, Anthology Live, which was released in July and ranked No.1 album on iTunes gospel list. 

Three of his 15 albums ranked as No.1 in Billboard magazine’s gospel category. His songs have been translated into German, Korean, Hebrew languages with a host of others.




“So many people, from the pulpit to those ushering at the door, are suffering with depression. And yes, I believe God can heal anything. And yes, I also believe that he puts things in our lives so that we can truly minister to others.” -Richard Smallwood

Personal Struggles

Smallwood’s illustrious career is well known, however, a lot of people have no idea about his personal worries and problems he has faced. He battled depression and suicidal thoughts, and for years, he couldn’t write a song. Smallwood found himself asking God, “Where is the healing in my life?”

Ironically, his best songs – songs that have inspired many globally – were inspired by his personal pain. “Songs of pain last,” says Richard Smallwood. “They make a difference. My prayer has always been, ‘Give me songs that last.’ I want my songs to last after I’m gone.”

Richard wrote one of his most popular songs, Total Praise when his mother had started struggling with dementia and a family friend was dying of cancer, making him responsible for their care all alone.

“The song came in a dream”, Smallwood says, which is why he now keeps an audio recorder next to his bed. In his words,  “I felt left by God. I was trying to write a pity party song but God pulled me into praise. God said ‘I want your praise no matter what, good or bad’. It’s about trusting him”.

In the late 90’s, Smallwood’s depression was so great that he couldn’t get out of bed, wouldn’t bathe or shave, and couldn’t write songs. Again, he was plagued by suicidal thoughts.

In 2002, he was diagnosed with clinical depression. He says, “I just thought I was unhappy a lot. It was debilitating. I knew Jesus probably longer than some folks have, and I suffered”.

Smallwood visited his psychiatrist, who was also a minister, around two to three times a week. The psychiatrist would encourage him, reminding him of the power of God, and church brethren also encouraged him to pray.

Richard started medication and was able to sing but would retreat into his room after. “I felt like a fraud. I would get up and talk about Jesus being the center of my joy, but as soon as I got off stage, I would retreat into a dark hole”, Smallwood says.

Smallwood’s healing came when he had a dream in 2010, where he saw his step-father. After the dream, he was healed of depression. Richard said, “At that point, I never had to take another pill. It was God’s way of healing me of some of the things I was dealing with.”

“Most people in the Bible had issues. They were flawed but God gave them grace to go through,” says Smallwood.

Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Musician, singing with Howard Gospel Choir

Image Courtesy of: Richard Smallwood Instagram Page

Smallwood's Reflections

Richard came to the realization that he wrote his best songs during his time of depression. He was able to connect to people’s pain. Smallwood says, “So many people, from the pulpit to those ushering at the door, are suffering with depression. And yes, I believe God can heal anything. And yes, I also believe that he puts things in our lives so that we can truly minister to others.”

Some great hymns we sing today were composed by the authors in times of sorrow and great despair. Thomas Dorsey wrote Precious Lord, Take My Hand in 1932 after his wife and child died. Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn It Is Well With My Soul after his four daughters died in a shipwreck in 1873. John Newton, who was a one-time slave ship captain, Amazing Grace in the mid-1700s following a stormy journey on a ship.

Looking back at his life, Smallwood is filled with gratitude to God He says, “I have lived such a very blessed life. I am so thankful to God,” he says. “What a journey this has been. This is not about making money. It’s about winning souls and encouraging people through Christ. He takes care of it all.”

Richard Smallwood released his last album, Anthology in 2015, and plans to work on his biography. He is also looking to lecture music at college level.




Total Praise song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Musician

Total Praise

I Love The Lord song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Musician

I Love The Lord

I'll Trust You song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Musician

I'll Trust You

Center Of My Joy song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Singer

Center Of My Joy

The Highest Praise song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Musician

The Highest Praise

Oh Lord, Stand By Me song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Musician

Oh Lord, Stand By Me

His Mercy Endureth Forever song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Singer

His Mercy Endureth Forever

Anthem of Praise song by Richard Smallwood, Christian Gospel Singer

Anthem of Praise

My Everything song by Richard Smallwood, Gospel Christian Musician

My Everything

christian musician
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