Grammy-nominated singer dead at 77: ‘A musical genius’
PennLive.com••entertainment
Key Points:
- Grammy-nominated gospel singer Richard Smallwood, aged 77, passed away on December 30 due to complications from kidney failure while at a nursing home in Sandy Spring, Maryland.
- Smallwood was a renowned artist and songwriter whose music was covered by prominent artists such as Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, and Destiny’s Child.
- Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington, D.C., Smallwood began playing piano at age 5 and was influenced by teachers including R&B legend Roberta Flack.
- He founded the Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977, earning a Grammy nomination in 1984 for their album "Psalms," and released his final album, "Anthology," in 2015
