Grammy Nominated Gospel Legend Dies at 77

The world of gospel music is mourning one of its most powerful voices and most gifted composers. Richard Smallwood, the Grammy-nominated singer, pianist, and songwriter whose music blended classical sophistication with raw spiritual power, has died at 77.

Smallwood passed away Tuesday in Sandy Spring, Maryland, from complications related to kidney failure, his longtime representative Bill Carpenter confirmed.

“Richard was so dedicated to the music,” Carpenter told reporters. “That’s what kept him alive all these years. He lived for it. He breathed it.”

Smallwood’s music wasn’t confined to gospel radio. It crossed into mainstream culture. His soaring ballads were covered by icons like Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Destiny’s Child, and Boyz II Men — a testament to how deeply his songs resonated with audiences far beyond the pews.

“His music didn’t just inspire me — it transformed me,” singer Chaka Khan wrote in a heartfelt Facebook post. “He opened up my world to gospel music. His brilliance, spirit, and devotion shaped generations — including my own journey.”

Born in Atlanta on November 30, 1948, Smallwood showed early signs of genius. He taught himself piano by ear at age five and was taking lessons by seven. By 11, he’d formed his first gospel group.

Raised primarily in Washington, D.C., by his mother Mabel and stepfather Rev. C.L. Smallwood, the young musician grew up steeped in church life. He went on to graduate cum laude from Howard University, where he became a founding member of both The Celestials and the school’s first official gospel choir.

In 1977, Smallwood formed the Richard Smallwood Singers — and changed gospel music forever. His arrangements fused the classical precision of Bach with the heartfelt energy of Black church choirs. Later, his group Vision produced anthems that filled arenas and sanctuaries alike.

The group’s signature song, “Total Praise,” became an instant classic. To this day, it’s sung in churches across denominations and continents.

“You can walk into almost any church — Black, white, Baptist, Catholic — and hear ‘Total Praise,’” Carpenter said. “That song alone earned him a place in the modern hymn book.”

Smallwood battled health issues for years, including kidney disease and mild dementia, but he never stopped finding strength in music. His Vision choir often visited him, singing the very songs he’d written to lift others.

Even in illness, his faith remained unshaken. “Music was his medicine,” Carpenter said. “It kept his heart beating.”

Smallwood’s eight Grammy nominations, countless Stellar Awards, and induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame cemented his place among the greats. Yet friends say his real legacy isn’t in trophies — it’s in lives changed by his songs.

“His music carried people through grief, through worship, through joy,” said gospel historian Carla Day. “He gave gospel music wings.”

As Chaka Khan wrote in her tribute, “I’m looking forward to singing with you in heaven.”