Richard Smallwood, a gospel singer who died at the age of 77, passed away on December 30, 2025, in Sandy Spring, Maryland, due to complications from kidney failure. With songs like “Total Praise” and “I Love the Lord,” the eight-time Grammy-nominated composer and performer made a lasting impact on gospel music.
Richard Smallwood started the Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 after teaching music at the University of Maryland. He mixed modern sounds with traditional gospel. He later started the Vision choir, which had big hits like “Total Praise,” a modern hymn that many artists have covered. His first album spent 87 weeks on the Billboard Gospel charts, and in 2006 he won four Dove Awards and was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame.
In addition, Smallwood’s music was influenced by classical music and included Baroque elements into gospel. Whitney Houston sang songs from The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack and Destiny’s Child sang songs from it. He wrote, arranged, played the piano, and sang baritone. Over the years, he sold millions of albums. Even though he had health problems and was depressed, his music helped him get through tough times, like when he had to care for his mother.
Furthermore, his health problems, such as kidney failure and mild dementia, made it hard for him to record later, but Vision members took care of him. Smallwood played for Presidents Nixon, Reagan, and Clinton. In 1989, he went on tour in the Soviet Union. “His legacy will live on through every note and every soul he touched,” say tributes that show how much he meant to people.
