Richard Smallwood, the renowned eight-time Grammy-nominated gospel singer and songwriter, passed away at the age of 77 on Tuesday, December 30, from complications related to kidney failure. His family announced his passing on his official Instagram page on Wednesday, December 31, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of love and support and requesting continued prayers for those affected by his loss. Smallwood died at the Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Ashton-Sandy Spring, Maryland.

Born on November 30, 1948, in Atlanta, Richard Smallwood was raised in Washington, D.C., by his mother and stepfather, who was the pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church. His musical journey began early, as he started playing the piano at age 5 and formed his first gospel group by age 11. He pursued higher education at Howard University, where he earned a music degree and became a member of the school’s inaugural gospel ensemble, the Celestials.

After graduating from Howard University, Smallwood established the Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977. The group, which included Dottie Jones, Jackie Ruffin, and Darlene Simmons, achieved significant success with their 1984 album "Psalms," which climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. This project also earned the group its first Grammy nomination for best soul gospel performance by a duo or group. Following the release of five albums with the Singers, Smallwood disbanded the act in the early 1990s.

Subsequently, Smallwood formed a large backing choir named Vision, which accompanied him on numerous albums through 2015. These collaborations produced several Gospel Albums chart-toppers, including "Journey: Live in New York" (2007), "Promises" (2011), and "Anthology: Live" (2015). His song “Trust Me,” which reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart, secured Smallwood his final Grammy nomination in 2012.

Over a distinguished five-decade career, Richard Smallwood cemented his legacy as a towering figure in gospel music, celebrated for his talents as a vocalist, pianist, and songwriter. His profound contributions earned him a total of eight Grammy nominations, in addition to numerous Dove and Stellar Awards. Beyond his own performances, Smallwood’s compositions were recorded by other prominent artists; Whitney Houston famously sang “I Love the Lord” for her 1996 film "The Preacher’s Wife," while Destiny’s Child performed “Total Praise” in a 2007 gospel medley, and Boyz II Men included a portion of the song on their 1997 album "Evolution." In 2019, Smallwood chronicled his life and career in his autobiography, "Total Praise: The Autobiography," named after his signature song. In his later years, he faced health challenges, including mild dementia, which limited his ability to record new music.