Richard Smallwood, the Grammy-nominated gospel singer whose songs have been covered by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston, died in Maryland on Tuesday. He was 77.
The “I Love the Lord” singer died at the Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Sandy Spring due to complications from kidney failure, a representative confirmed to Variety.
Smallwood’s family also announced his death on his official Instagram account, remembering him as a “world-renowned artist, songwriter and musician,” while requesting privacy as fans help to “celebrate the legacy he leaves behind and the gifts he unselfishly shared with the world.”
Largely raised in Washington, D.C., Smallwood found himself a mentee of Roberta Flack when he was at Browne Junior High, TMZ reports. A lifelong pianist as well, he went on to earn his master’s in musicology and piano from Howard University. While there, he sang with the Celestials, the university’s inaugural gospel group.
In 1977, Smallwood founded the Richard Smallwood Singers, who released their self-titled debut in 1982 — an 87-week mainstay on the Billboard spiritual album sales chart.
Two years later, their sophomore album, “Psalms,” earned Smallwood the first of his Grammy nominations, for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group. Three additional nods for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album — for “Portrait,” “Testimony” and “Live” — came from his work with the group, which parted ways after five albums.
Smallwood’s solo work was twice nominated for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, for both “Persuaded — Live In DC” and “The Praise & Worship Songs.” His last Grammy nomination was for the 2012 ceremony, at which “Trust Me” was up for Best Gospel Song.
The late Houston covered Smallwood’s “I Love the Lord” for 1996’s “The Preacher’s Wife,” with the music later used in Boyz II Men’s “Dear God.”
Smallwood was also behind the backing choir Vision, with which he recorded 1995’s “Total Praise.” The song was covered by Destiny’s Child as part of 2007’s “Gospel Medley,” and performed by Stevie Wonder at the February 2024 memorial for civil rights activist Dexter Scott King, the son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Tuesday, Destiny’s Child alum Michelle Williams paid tribute to “Maestro Richard Smallwood,” thanking him for music that “ministered throughout this entire world.”
In his 50s, Smallwood returned to school and in 2004 earned a master of divinity degree from Howard, after which he was ordained at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Largo, Md., where he also served as an artist in residence.
He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
Smallwood is survived by two brothers and three foster sisters.
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