Richard Smallwood, 77, Choral Leader and Composer of Gospel Hits, Dies
The New York Times••entertainment
Key Points:
- Richard Smallwood, a classically trained composer and gospel singer known for blending Baroque influences with traditional gospel, died at age 77 from complications of kidney failure.
- He led the Richard Smallwood Singers, a pioneering group in the late 1970s that helped bring Black church gospel music into the mainstream.
- Their debut album, released in 1982, remained on the Billboard Gospel charts for 87 weeks, marking a significant success in gospel music.
- Smallwood's music combined gospel traditions with secular and classical elements, which broadened his appeal but sparked some controversy among gospel purists.
- His compositions were later recorded by prominent artists such as Stevie Wonder, Destiny’s Child, and Whitney Houston.
