𝗖𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 reflects on the legacy of 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 and the meaning behind “𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱.”

Credit: Cory Henry / RadioFree KJLH

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#historymatters #musicmatters #richardsmallwood

Maryland Governor #WesMoore Sings "Center Of My Joy" At #RichardSmallwood Memorial Service

Gospel musician Richard Smallwood remembered with music-filled funeral - Sight Magazine Thousands of fans of Gospel music giant Richard Smallwood bid him farewell in a music-filled funeral on Saturday.

Gospel musician Richard Smallwood remembered with music-filled funeral @sightmagazine.bsky.social #RichardSmallwood #Gospelmusic #FirstBaptistChurchGlenarden #Christianmusic

sightmagazine.com.au/news/gospel-...

The Celebration of Life for #RichardSmallwood exemplified what his Pastor (and mine😉), Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr., so poignantly and masterfully stated, “Excellence is not elitism, but stewardship.” Praise can emanate from preparation and production. #BlackSky #Music

Found it. It was Bach Cantata, BWV 147 #RichardSmallwood

You know over on Threads they said Richard Smallwood has never won a SINGLE GRAMMY?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!???!!!
🤯🤯🤯. #BlackSky

Collage from the funeral program of Richard Smallwood. Seen pictured photos of his family and friends and his dog.

They put the dog in the funeral program!
🗣️ I KNOW THAT’S RIGHT!
If you don’t include my furbaby in my funeral program, I don’t want it! #RichardSmallWood #BlackSky

a woman is sitting in a red chair on a stage holding a microphone . Alt: a woman is sitting in a red chair on a stage holding a microphone .

He better play that piano! #TotalPraise #RichardSmallwood

Richard Smallwood Celebration of Life YouTube video by Roland S. Martin

youtube.com/live/niIFVwn... #RichardSmallwood 🕊🙏🏽✝️☦️☦️

FBCG LiveStream2

#RichardSmallwood #Memorial
#Streaming
vimeo.com/event/4032703

Phylicia Rashad is speaking at the funeral service…
At first I was like OH?!👀
Then realized… duh HOWARD!♥️💙🦬 #HUYouKnow #RichardSmallwood
#BlackSky

Remembering Richard Smallwood: how his music became modern-day psalm Daniel Heath remembers Richard Smallwood, whose music taught the church how to pray, lament and hope.

Remembering Richard Smallwood: how his music became modern-day psalm

Daniel Heath remembers Richard Smallwood, whose music taught the church how to pray, lament and hope.

#RichardSmallwood

Thank You Richard Smallwood · Adoration · Song · 1996

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #AfternoonShow

Richard Smallwood:
🎵 Thank You

#RichardSmallwood

▶️ 🪄 Automagic 🔊 show 📻 playlist on Spotify

▶️ Song on #Spotify:

Why Richard Smallwoods’ ‘Total Praise’ Still Carries So Many Of Us This wasn’t just grief for a gospel composer who “went to glory.” This was a collective recognition of what a single song has done for us as a people.

“Total Praise” isn’t just gospel—it’s Black survival tech. Atheists, agnostics, churchgoers: all held by its architecture. No theology required—just breath, memory, and the audacity to stay human. #TotalPraise #RichardSmallwood

newsone.com/6737396/why-...

Remembering Richard Smallwood: how his music became modern-day psalm Daniel Heath remembers Richard Smallwood, whose music taught the church how to pray, lament and hope.

Remembering Richard Smallwood: how his music became modern-day psalm

Daniel Heath remembers Richard Smallwood, whose music taught the church how to pray, lament and hope.

#RichardSmallwood

Twinkie Clark
#RichardSmallwood (RIP😭)
Aretha Franklin
Luther Vandross
Donny Hathaway

Gospel music icon Richard Smallwood, the Stellar and Dove Award-winning singer, pianist, songwriter, composer and producer, has died at 77.

🔗 soulbounce.com/2025/12/rich...

#RichardSmallwood #RIPRichardSmallwood #SoulBounce #BlackSky #BlackMusicSky #MusicSky #GospelSky

We lost a giant in the faith when we lost #RichardSmallwood - the maestro who combined classical and gospel creating a sound that reverberated across the earth giving us a glimpse of heaven.
#MusicThatInspires Trust Me
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUPj...

Rest in peace, Richard. #musicmatters #richardsmallwood vanessa-ideasandimages.blogspot.com/2026/01/satu...

𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 on blending gospel tradition, classical training, and jazz influences into his musical identity.

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#RichardSmallwood #GospelMusic #ClassicalMusic #MusicCircle

𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱’s music remains a masterclass in grace, structure, and devotion.

His sound still leads the faithful.

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#RichardSmallwood #GospelLegacy #MusicCircle

The choir is singing "Angels".. RIP Richard Smallwood 🙏🏽 🕊✝️🎤🎙🫶🏽 #RichardSmallwood

Remembering the Life of Double Alumnus, Gospel Music Pioneer Richard Smallwood A founding member of the famed Howard Gospel Choir, Smallwood leaves a towering legacy both on campus and across the broader university community.

Here is a piece about Maestro Richard Smallwood from his alma mater Howard University.
🕊️👑🤎🎹🎙️🗣️🎵 #RichardSmallwood

News/Opinion: Howard Alum and Gospel Music Icon Richard Smallwood, both passing at 77, have sparked concern among HBCU communities. The Enduring Legacy of Richard Smallwood: A Gospel Music IconAs we reflect on the life and career of Richard Smallwood, a Howard University alum and gospel music icon, its clear that his impact will be felt for generations to come. With a legacy spanning over four decades, Smallwoods contributions to contemporary gospel music are nothing short of remarkable. His passing at 77 has left an outpouring of tributes from the music and faith communities, but his influence extends far beyond the realm of gospel music.Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington, D.C., Smallwoods musical talent was evident from a young age. He taught himself to play piano by ear before formally studying music at Howard University, where he graduated cum laude. It was during this time that he helped establish the schools gospel choir, laying the foundation for a legacy that continues to shape Howards musical heritage.Smallwoods connection to Howard University is just one aspect of his remarkable story. His fusion of classical training with gospel tradition created a sound that would become the hallmark of his music. This blend of intellectual rigor and artistic mastery has inspired countless artists and worship leaders, transcending denominational and generational boundaries.After graduating from Howard, Smallwood went on to teach music at the University of Maryland before forming the Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977. The ensemble introduced a sophisticated, choir-driven approach to gospel that emphasized musical complexity, theological depth, and emotional resonance. Songs like Total Praise, I Love the Lord, and Order My Steps became modern gospel standards, regularly performed in churches across the country and around the world.Smallwoods influence extended far beyond traditional gospel spaces. His song I Love the Lord reached mainstream audiences after being recorded by Whitney Houston for The Preachers Wife soundtrack, introducing his work to a global audience. Over the years, his music was also performed or cited as influential by artists across genres, including Destinys Child, Stevie Wonder, and Boyz II Men.Throughout his career, Smallwood earned eight Grammy Award nominations and received multiple Stellar Awards and Dove Awards, cementing his status as one of the most decorated and respected figures in gospel music history. He was later inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, a recognition that reflected both his artistic achievements and his enduring spiritual impact.But beyond awards and accolades, Smallwoods greatest legacy lies in the way his music continues to shape worship experiences across denominations and generations. Total Praise alone has become a global anthem, performed at funerals, graduations, protests, and moments of collective reflection, often serving as a soundtrack for both grief and hope.As we remember Richard Smallwoods life and career, its clear that his impact will be felt for years to come. His music continues to inspire new generations of artists and worship leaders, while his legacy serves as a testament to the power of faith and culture. As we celebrate his life, let us also reflect on the enduring lessons of his story: the importance of blending tradition with innovation, the value of intellectual rigor and artistic mastery, and the transformative power of music to bring people together.In the words of Smallwood himself, Music is a language that can transcend cultures, denominations, and generations. His legacy will continue to echo through the ages, reminding us of the profound impact one person can have on the world.#Music #HowardUniversity #RichardSmallwood

News/Opinion: Howard Alum and Gospel Music Icon Richard Smallwood, both passing at 77, have sparked concern among HBCU communities.: The Enduring Legacy of Richard Smallwood: A Gospel Music IconAs we reflect on the life and career of Richard… #SamHouston #Music #HowardUniversity #RichardSmallwood

Lifestory: Gospel singer Richard Smallwood dies at 77, leaving a legacy that inspired many in music - Sight Magazine JEFF MARTIN, of Associated Press, reports on the life of the Grammy Award nominee who has died at the age of 77...

Lifestory: Gospel singer Richard Smallwood dies at 77, leaving a legacy that inspired many in music. @sightmagazine.bsky.social #Lifestory #RichardSmallwood #Gospelmusic #RichardSmallwoodSingers #ThePreachersWife #TotalPraise

sightmagazine.com.au/lifestory/li...

Remembering Richard Smallwood: A Gospel Great Without Compromise A tribute to Richard Smallwood, the gospel legend behind “Total Praise” and Whitney’s “I Love the Lord,” but a man who never needed crossover to be heard.

Remembering Richard Smallwood (1948-2025): A Gospel Legend Without Compromise

#RichardSmallwood #GospelMusic #BlackMusicHistory #GospelMusic #RIPRichardSmallwood #TotalPraise

djrobblog.com/archives/24183

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Keeping It Reel: The Impact of Richard Smallwood Podcast Episode ·

#RichardSmallwood
🪽🎹🪽
11/30/48-12/30/25🤺

Richard Smallwood (1948-2025) | SoulBounce Gospel music icon Richard Smallwood, the Stellar and Dove Award-winning singer, pianist, songwriter, composer and producer, has died at 77.

New on SoulBounce: Richard Smallwood (1948-2025)

🔗 soulbounce.com/2025/12/rich...

#RichardSmallwood #RIPRichardSmallwood #SoulBounce #BlackSky #BlackMusicSky #MusicSky #GospelSky

My friend, mentor and a father figure has passed and my heart is broken. He means so much to me!! #richardsmallwood