Richard Smallwood

Infobox musical artist
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Name = Richard Smallwood

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Background = solo_singer
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Origin = Washington, DC flagicon|USA
Instrument = piano
Genre = Gospel music
Occupation = composer, music director, pianist, arranger
Years_active = 1975-present
Label = Onyx/Muscle Shoals Sound, Sparrow, Word, Capitol, Jive, Verity
Associated_acts = The Richard Smallwood Singers
Vision
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Richard Smallwood is an American Gospel music artist born in Atlanta, Georgia who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, DC.

Biography

World-class composer, pianist and arranger, Richard Smallwood has clearly and solidly changed the face of Gospel music. He can impeccably blend classical movements with Traditional Gospel, and arrive at a mix that is invariably Smallwood's alone. A diverse and innovative artist, Richard Smallwood has achieved many honors; Dove Awards, Stellar Awards and a Grammy also attest to his talents.

Richard graduated "cum laude" from renowned Howard University with degrees in both Vocal Performance and Piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of Ethnomusicology. His musical gifts were stirred up early in life. At age five, he was playing the piano by ear; at seven, began formal training; and at eleven, formed his first Gospel group. Richard Smallwood is attributed with many gospel "firsts." He was a member of the first Gospel group on Howard University's campus, The Celestials. They were also the first Gospel group to appear at Switzerland's Montreaux Jazz Festival. In addition, Richard was one of the founding members of Howard's first Gospel choir, and The Richard Smallwood Singers were the first black Gospel group to go to the Soviet Union.

Smallwood has been honored by the Smithsonian Institution as a "gospel innovator and songwriter," and his hometown of Washington, DC heralded two separate occasions as "Richard Smallwood Day," also distinguishing him with the Mayoral Art Award for "precision and excellence in artistic discipline." Smallwood's gift has made room for him to minister to presidents and dignitaries all over the world as well as home at most of DC's halls of fame, such as, Constitution Hall, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center and the White House. Touching all areas of the arts, Richard and his singers toured with the theatrical musical "Sing Mahalia Sing" based on the life of Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson and starring Jennifer Holiday, which segued into a guest appearance on television's "Ryan's Hope" for ABC. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from Howard University in 1997.

Richard began his recording career in 1982 with an album simply titled "The Richard Smallwood Singers". The debut project spent 87 weeks on Billboard's Gospel chart, and involved Angela Winbush, of the famous R&B duo Rene and Angela. The next project, "Psalms" received a Grammy nomination. Two years later, another nomination for "Textures", the album that contained the classic, "Center Of My Joy" penned by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither. Smallwood continued to amass successive Grammy nominations with all of the following projects: "Vision", "Portrait", "Testimony" and "Live at Howard University". Richard continued to climb to the pinnacle of success, receiving a Grammy Award and Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones Gospel project, "Handel's Soulful Messiah".

Richard's music has never been confined to anyone artistic genre. His song, "I Love The Lord" crossed onto the big screen when Whitney Houston sang it in the film "The Preacher's Wife". [cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/richardsmallwood2.html|title=An interview with Richard Smallwood on the state of gospel music today|publisher=GospelFlava.com|date=October 2001|author=Clark, Melanie] The same song was also used in the tune, "Dear God" by R&B artists Boyz II Men on their "Evolution" album. His music has also been recorded by artists such as Destiny's Child, Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark-Sheard. He has even accompanied legendary opera diva Leontyne Price as a part of the White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration.

Richard, with his current group Vision, an ensemble of multitalented ministers of music from the DC area, has recorded four projects for Verity records: "Adoration", which contains the anthemic mega-hit, "Total Praise," a Christmas project "Rejoice", "Healing: Live in Detroit", and "Persuaded: Live in DC", which was also nominated for a Grammy and won multiple Stellar Awards.

Richard was licensed to preach the Word of God in 2003. In May 2004, he completed work on his Masters Of Divinity at Howard University's prestigious School of Divinity and graduated with honors. He was ordained in June 2004. In June 2005, he and Vision shared the stage with legend Aretha Franklin for three nights at Madison Square Garden for the McDonalds gospel fest to rave reviews and critical acclaim. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music from the Richmond Virginia Seminary in May 2006. On November 14, 2006, Richard had the distinguished honor of being inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

His latest project, "Journey: Live in New York", is one of the most highly-anticipated projects in the music industry. It features legends such as Chaka Khan, Kim Burrell, Kelly Price, The Hawkins Family featuring Edwin, Walter, Tramaine and Lynette, Classical singer Janice Chandler-Eteme, the Original Smallwood Singers and Vision all performing Smallwood music, new and old. The double-disc set was released on June 5, 2007 and became the highest charting release of his career as well as the first albums ever to debut at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts. [cite web|url=http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur34364.cfm|title='JOURNEY-LIVE IN NEW YORK' IS #1: Richard Smallwood celebrates many 'firsts.'|date=June 15, 2007|publisher=EURweb]

Richard serves as an associate minister at his home church, Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, DC, where Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr. is pastor. He is also Artist-in-Residence for the Metropolitan Music Ministry of Metropolitan Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr., minister of music.

Discography

Albums

;with Richard Smallwood Singers:
* "Richard Smallwood Singers" (Onyx/Benson Records, 1982)
* "Psalms" (Onyx/Benson Records, 1984)
* "Textures" (Word, 1986)
* "Vision" (Word, 1988)
* "Portrait" (Word, 1990)
* "Testimony" (Sparrow, 1992)
* "Live at Howard University" (Sparrow, 1993)

;with Vision:
* "Adoration: Live in Atlanta" (Verity, 1996)
* "Rejoice (Christmas Project)" (Verity, 1997)
* "Healing: Live in Detroit" (Verity, 1999)
* "Persuaded: Live in D.C." (Verity, 2001)
* "Journey: Live in New York" (Verity, 2007)

Compilations

* "Gospel Greats" (Benson, 1994)
* "Memorable Moments" (Sparrow, 1999)
* "Praise & Worship Songs of Richard Smallwood With Vision" (Verity, 2003)
* "Quintessential Collection" (EMI Gospel, 2007)
* "Center of My Joy" (Rhino/Shanachie, 2007)

Awards & Recognitions

* Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame on November 14, 2006 at the Richland Country Club in Nashville, TN.
* Received Howard University Distinguished Achievement Award.

Grammy, Stellar & NAACP Image Award Nominations

* 1984: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Duo or Group - Richard Smallwood Singers: "Psalms"
* 1988: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Richard Smallwood: "You Did It All"
* 1990: Grammy Nomination, Best Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Portrait'
* 1991: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Testimony"
* 1993: Grammy Nomination, Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood Singers: "Live"
* 2001: Grammy Nomination, Best Traditional Soul Gospel Performance, Album-Richard Smallwood with Vision: "Persuaded: Live in DC"
* 2001: NAACP Image Award Nomination for Best Gospel Artist, Traditional - "Persuaded: Live in DC"
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Artist Of The Year - "Persuaded: Live in DC; Verity"
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Song Of The Year - "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)"; Verity
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Choir Of The Year - "Persuade: Live in DC"
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Producer Of The Year - "Persuaded: Live in DC"
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Male Vocalist Of The Year - "Persuaded: Live in DC"
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for CD Of The Year - "Persuaded: Live in DC"
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - "Persuaded: Live in DC"
* 2003: Stellar Award Nomination for Music Video of the Year - "Persuaded: Live in DC"

tellar Award Wins

* 2000: Stellar Award for Choir of the Year - "Healing – Live in Detroit" cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarresults-2000.html|title=15th Annual Stellar Award Results|publisher=GospelFlava.com]
* 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year - "Healing – Live in Detroit"
* 2000: Stellar Award for Traditional Choir of the Year - "Healing – Live in Detroit"
* 2003: Stellar Award for Choir of the Year - "Healing – Live in Detroit" cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/stellar/stellarresults-2003.html|title=18th Annual Stellar Award Results|publisher=GospelFlava.com]

References

External links

*myspace|richardsmallwood|Richard Smallwood - (Official Richard Smallwood Site)
*amg|id=11:kep1z84ajyvn~T0|label=Richard Smallwood
* [http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=all&query=richard+smallwood Richard Smallwood Awards]
* [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=3011&model.vnuAlbumId=602730 Richard Smallwood Chart History] on Billboard
* [http://www.landrudesign.com/DefaultFrameSet.htm?Gallery_Smallwood_Journey_2005.htm~LandruMnFrm Photos of Smallwood's "Journey" Concert from Landru Design]