Lord, we stand in awe.
We lift Your name with hearts full of gratitude for the life of Richard Smallwood — a man who put our praise to music, who let our joy and our pain rise up in harmony, who taught the church how to worship with every fiber of our being.
When the news came that he had passed, the church was shaken. We couldn’t believe it. Our spirits trembled because it felt like the sound of praise itself had been dimmed. Choir stands felt empty. Hallelujahs felt lighter. But even in that moment of shock, we were wrapped in the truth that his music — his legacy — lives on in every song we lift, in every hand we raise, in every soul that finds strength and peace in gospel melodies.
Richard didn’t just write songs.
He taught us how to pray with our voices.
He held our hurts in prayerful notes.
He gave our hope a soundtrack.
From “Total Praise” to every moment of worship in-between, he carried the beloved heritage of the church — and he gifted it back to us, rich and full and radiant.
So today, we don’t just remember Richard Smallwood.
We thank God for him.
Thank You for his brilliant mind.
Thank You for his faithful heart.
Thank You for every note that lifted us higher.
Thank You for every chorus that reminded us we are His.
Though he is gone from our sight, his music remains. And we will sing it.
We will pass it on.
We will worship with it.
We will live it.
And in every song of praise we raise, we honor his life, his gift, and the way he helped the church find Heaven in song.
Rest well, Dr. Smallwood. Your legacy is a blessing — cherished by the body of Christ, beloved by the church, and adopted forever into the fabric of our praise.
Amen.
Richard Smallwood – Gospel Music Legend
Richard Smallwood (November 30, 1948 – December 30, 2025) was one of the most beloved and influential voices in gospel music, whose work touched the hearts of believers around the world and became woven into the worship life of the church. Wikipedia
Born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Washington, D.C., Richard showed musical promise early — playing piano by ear as a young child and leading his own gospel group by age eleven. People.com
He went on to study at Howard University, graduating cum laude with degrees in vocal performance and piano, and doing advanced study in music. While there, he helped launch Howard’s first gospel choir and was a member of the pioneering gospel ensemble the Celestials. Wikipedia
After college, Richard taught music and then began a recording career that would span more than five decades. People.com In 1977 he formed The Richard Smallwood Singers, whose debut album stayed on the gospel charts for nearly two years and brought national attention to his blend of classical influence and deep church tradition. Wikipedia Later, he founded the choir Vision, with whom he created some of his most enduring works.
Smallwood’s music won widespread acclaim. He was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, earned numerous Stellar and Dove Awards, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. EW.com His work wasn’t just beloved in Black churches — it crossed genres and generations. Artists like Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Yolanda Adams, and Karen Clark Sheard recorded his music, bringing his anthems to even wider audiences. Kennedy Center+1
Among his most cherished compositions is “Total Praise,” a song that became a modern gospel standard sung in churches of many denominations around the world. Wikipedia Another beloved anthem, “I Love the Lord,” was featured by Whitney Houston in the film The Preacher’s Wife. People.com
Richard Smallwood’s music was more than entertainment — it was ministry. It carried people through joy, sorrow, celebration, and surrender. His songs helped generations find their voice in worship, and many are considered modern hymns in the life of the church.
He passed away in Sandy Spring, Maryland, at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy of praise that continues to uplift, heal, and inspire. People.com
This tribute by Jackson State University Marching Band brought us to tears.
