Richard Smallwood, known as “The Maestro,” was a legendary pianist, composer, and arranger who blended soul-stirring gospel with classical music to create a sound that was uniquely his own and songs that became anthems for choirs around the world.
Smallwood, who struggled with health challenges in recent years, died Tuesday at a nursing home in Maryland from kidney disease, The Journal of Gospel Music and The Washington Post report. He was 77.
A singer-songwriter, Smallwood received eight Grammy nominations between 1985 and 2012 with The Richard Smallwood Singers and Richard Smallwood & Vision. He won a Grammy in 1992 for his work with a team of producers, including Quincey Jones, for “Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.” Four of his albums hit No.1 on Billboard gospel charts, and he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
A life of music, with help from giants
His songs “Center of My Joy,” “Total Praise,” and “Trust Me” have been the soundtrack of many Christians’ faith walks. Nearly 15 years after its original release, “I Love the Lord,” which Smallwood wrote as a college student, became part of the Preacher’s Wife soundtrack – thanks to Whitney Houston’s insistence.
The movie soundtrack made history, in large part because of Houston’s rendition of the song.
Born November 30, 1948, in Atlanta, GA, Smallwood moved to Washington, D.C. as a child. He began playing the piano at the age of 4 and accompanied the choir at his stepfather’s church by age 7.
His career unofficially began at age 11, when he formed his first gospel group — consisting of kids from his Northeast Washington neighborhood.
In junior high, Smallwood was taught by Roberta Flack, who, at the time, was working as a music teacher. And, as a student at Howard University, where he helped form the Howard University gospel choir, Smallwood was mentored by Donny Hathaway, who was a music major at the time.
Smallwood told the Washington Post in 2015 that Hathaway showed him how to play the hymn “Nothing but the Blood” with jazzy overtones.
“He told me to play and sing what you feel. It’s all God’s music,” Smallwood recalled.
“One of one,” an inspiration
In a tribute to Smallwood on Tuesday, Chaka Khan posted on Instagram that Smallwood opened up gospel music to her.
“His music didn’t just inspire me, it transformed me,” Khan wrote. “He is my favorite pianist, and his brilliance, spirit, and devotion to the music shaped generations, including my own journey.”
Tributes poured in on social media from many who described Smallwood as a musical genius.
Fellow gospel composer and artist Kirk Franklin called him “one of one.” Gospel singer Kierra Sheard said Smallwood “wrote the songs of our hearts.”
A musical high sparked by a personal low
Smallwood, who spoke openly about his depression, suicidal thoughts, and the benefits of therapy, said God used his pain to help him compose and to minister.
It was during a bout with depression in the mid-1990s when Smallwood penned one of his biggest hits, “Total Praise.” Destiny’s Child covered the song in 2001 as part of the acapella track “Gospel Medley.”
Lord, I will lift
Mine eyes to the hills
Knowing my help
Is coming from You
Your peace, You give me
In time of the storm
You are the source of my strength
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to You….Amen
Smallwood told The Washington Post that the song came to him in a dream at a time when he was acting as a caregiver to his mother, who was struggling with dementia, and a close family friend, who was battling cancer.
“I felt left by God,” he said. “I was trying to write a pity-party song, but God pulled me to do a praise song. God said, ‘I want your praise no matter what the situation you are in, good or bad.’ It’s about trusting him.”
Smallwood said he knows that many of his songs, birthed from his own pain, inspire.
“Songs of pain last,” Smallwood said during the interview. “They make a difference. My prayer has always been, ‘Give me songs that last.’ I want my songs to last after I’m gone.”
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