Richard Smallwood
Encyclopedia
Richard Smallwood is an American
Gospel music
artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, DC.
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 followup, 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. He won his first Grammy, along with a Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones' gospel project Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration
.
His music has been recorded by artists such as Destiny's Child
, Yolanda Adams
, Karen Clark-Sheard, and many more. He even accompanied opera legend Leontyne Price
at a White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration. Richard, with his current group Vision, has recorded several successful projects for Verity records. He finished his Masters 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 "I Can Make This Journey (With You By My Side)," Kelly Price
on "Morning Is 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.Aretha Franklin
and The Clark Sisters
will contribute to additional studio tracks to appear on the album.
with Vision:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, DC.
Biography
Richard graduated cum laude from Howard University with degrees in both vocal performance and piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of ethnomusicology. 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. Richard 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 followup, 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. He won his first Grammy, along with a Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones' gospel project Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration
Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration
Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration is a critically acclaimed gospel album by various artists, released in 1992 on Warner Alliance. Executive produced by Norman Miller, Gail Hamilton and Mervyn Warren, it is a reinterpretation of the 1741 oratorio Messiah by George Frideric Handel, and has been...
.
His music has been recorded by artists such as Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
, Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
, Karen Clark-Sheard, and many more. He even accompanied opera legend Leontyne Price
Leontyne Price
Mary Violet Leontyne Price is an American soprano. Born and raised in the Deep South, she rose to international acclaim in the 1950s and 1960s, and was one of the first African Americans to become a leading artist at the Metropolitan Opera.One critic characterized Price's voice as "vibrant",...
at a White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration. Richard, with his current group Vision, has recorded several successful projects for Verity records. He finished his Masters 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
Kim Burrell
Kimberly Burrell is an American gospel singer from Houston, Texas. She calls her musical style jazz gospel. Though she is comparatively new to the gospel music industry, having only performed since 1989, she has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the genre, often named as "this...
on "I Can Make This Journey (With You By My Side)," Kelly Price
Kelly Price
Kelly Price is an American R&B and soul singer, formerly on the Def Soul label.-Life and music career:Kelly Cherelle Price was born in Queens, New York. She was first discovered by Mariah Carey in February 1992 and subsequently introduced to Sony Columbia's then CEO Tommy Mottola...
on "Morning Is Breaking," Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
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.Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of four sisters:Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. A fifth sister, Denise Clark Bradford, no longer performs with the group. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of legendary...
will contribute to additional studio tracks to appear on the album.
Albums
with Richard Smallwood Singers:- Richard Smallwood Singers (Onyx/Benson Records, 1982)
- Psalms (Onyx/Benson Records, 1984)
- Textures (Word, 1986)
- Vision (Word, 1988)
- Portrait (Word, 1990)
- Testimony (Sparrow, 1992)
- Live at Howard University (Sparrow, 1993)
with Vision:
- Adoration: Live in Atlanta (Verity, 1996)
- Rejoice (Christmas Project) (Verity, 1997)
- Healing: Live in Detroit (Verity, 1999)
- Persuaded: Live in D.C. (Verity, 2001)
- Journey: Live in New York (Verity, 2007)
- Promises (Verity, 2011)
Compilations
- Gospel Greats (Benson, 1994)
- Memorable Moments (Sparrow, 1999)
- Praise & Worship Songs of Richard Smallwood With Vision (Verity, 2003)
- Quintessential Collection (EMI Gospel, 2007)
- "Center of My Joy" (Rhino/Shanachie, 2007)
Awards & recognitions
- Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame on November 14, 2006 at the Richland Country Club in Nashville, TN.
- Received Howard University Distinguished Achievement Award.
Grammy, Stellar & NAACP Image Award Nominations
- 1984: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Duo or Group - Richard Smallwood Singers: "Psalms"
- 1988: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Richard Smallwood: "You Did It All"
- 1990: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Portrait'
- 1991: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Testimony"
- 1993: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Live"
- 2001: Grammy Nomination, Best Traditional Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood with Vision: "Persuaded: Live in DC"
- 2001: NAACP Image Award Nomination for Best Gospel Artist, Traditional - Persuaded: Live in DC
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Artist Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC; Verity
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Song Of The Year - "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)"; Verity
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Choir Of The Year - Persuade: Live in DC
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Producer Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Male Vocalist Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for CD Of The Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
- 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Music Video of the Year - Persuaded: Live in DC
Stellar Award Wins
- 2000: Stellar Award for Choir of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit
- 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit
- 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Choir of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit
- 2003: Stellar Award for Choir of the Year - Healing – Live in Detroit
External links
- (Official Richard Smallwood Site)- Richard Smallwood Awards
- Richard Smallwood Chart History on BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
- Photos of Smallwood's Journey Concert from Landru Design