Gospel Singer Richard Smallwood Dies at 77

Richard Smallwood, the Grammy-nominated gospel singer, pianist and songwriter whose compositions inspired generations of performers, died on December 30 at age 77. He passed away from complications of kidney failure at the Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Sandy Spring, Maryland, his publicist confirmed.

Smallwood's family announced his death on social media, stating, "We are saddened to announce the passing of world-renowned artist, songwriter, and musician, Richard Smallwood." They requested privacy while encouraging remembrances of his enduring legacy. Information on funeral arrangements was not immediately available.

Born on November 30, 1948, in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Washington, D.C., Smallwood displayed prodigious musical talent from childhood. He began playing piano by ear at age five and formed his first gospel group by age 11. One of his high school teachers was Roberta Flack, before she launched her own recording career. Smallwood graduated cum laude from Howard University with a degree in music, where he helped establish the university's Gospel Choir and its inaugural gospel ensemble, the Celestials. The group made history as the first gospel...