Richard Smallwood
30 November 1948–
The Richard Smallwood Singers (1982)
Featured Hymns
see also:
Discography
Celestial Sound
Wesley Boyd, Richard Smallwood, Rosalind Thompkins, Edward Sully, Mary Lewis
“Come together” / “At the Altar” (Mark MC-8305, 1972)
Howard Gospel Choir
Wallace Williams (director), Richard Smallwood (organ, solo on “I Found God”), recorded live at Cramton Auditorium, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Beginning (Mark MC-8925, 1972) LP
—“I Found God” / “Up There” (Mark USR 2030, 1972) 45rpm
—“Keep Your Hand in God’s Hand” / “Have Thine Own Way” (Mark MC1011, 1972) 45rpm
Union Temple Young Adult Choir
Richard Smallwood (director), members of Union Temple Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
Look Up and Live (1974)
Give Us Peace (1976)
Richard Smallwood Singers
Richard Smallwood Singers (Onyx, 1982)
Psalms (Onyx, 1984)
Textures (Word/Rejoice, 1987)
Vision (Word/Rejoice, 1988)
Portrait (Word, 1990)
Testimony (Sparrow, 1992)
Live at Howard University (Sparrow, 1993)
Recorded 18–19 April 1993 at Howard University, Washington, D.C.
> Gospel Greats (1994) [compilation]
> Memorable Moments (1999) [compilation]
> Center of My Joy (2007) [compilation]
> Beginnings (2012) [compilation]
Richard Smallwood and Vision
Adoration: Live in Atlanta (1996) with DVD, songbook
Recorded at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Atlanta, GA
Rejoice (1997), with songbook
Healing: Live in Detroit (1999) with DVD, songbook
Recorded at Straight Gate International Church, Detroit, MI
Persuaded: Live in D.C. (2001) with DVD, songbook
Recorded at Jericho City of Praise, Landover, MD
> Praise & Worship Songs of Richard Smallwood (2003) [compilation] with DVD, songbook
Journey: Live in New York (2007) with DVD, songbook
Recorded at the Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center, Manhattan, NY
> The Definitive Gospel Collection (2008) [compilation]
Promises (2011) with songbook
Behind the Scenes of Promises (2011): YouTube
> Setlist: The Very Best of Richard Smallwood Live (2011) [compilation]
Anthology Live (2015)
Recorded 24 August 2014 at Evangel Cathedral, Largo, MD
> 20th Century Masters (2015) [compilation]
See also:
Donald Vails Choraleers
If You Move Yourself, Then God Can Have His Way (Savoy SGL7039, 1980)
Recorded in Detroit, MI
Larnelle Harris
Touch Me Lord (1982)
The Edwin Hawkins Music and Art Seminar Mass Choir
Multiple albums, 1983–2008?
In Performance at the White House (Dec. 1983)
Jacki Ruffin, Carolene Adams, Wesley Boyd, Lisa Burroughs, Dottie Jones, Richard Smallwood (piano), Tim Linzy (bass), Spike McRae (drums). Recorded at Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
Sing, Mahalia, Sing (1985): PDF
Musical starring Jennifer Holliday; Richard Smallwood was composer and music director.
[not professionally recorded]
Candi Staton
Love Lifted Me (1988)
Candi Staton
Stand Up and Be a Witness (1989)
Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (1992)
Gaither Music
Gospel Pioneer Reunion (recorded 1994, released 2016)
Recorded at Gaither Studios, Alexandria, IN
A Tribute to Mrs. Rosa Parks (Verity, 1995)
Verity Records Live at the Apollo (1997)
Recorded 23 June 1996 at Apollo Theater, New York City
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (2002)
Recorded live at Lakewood Church, Houston, TX
Related Resources:
Richard Smallwood, “Gospel and Blues Improvisation,” Music Educators Journal, vol. 66, no. 5 (Jan. 1980), pp. 100–104: JSTOR
Bil Carpenter, “Richard Smallwood,” Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia (2005), pp. 377–379.
Bob Marovich, “Richard Smallwood: Setting God’s Promises to Music,” Journal of Gospel Music (1 Aug. 2011): JGM
Bob Marovich, “Richard Smallwood’s ‘Anthology Live’ a Musical Autobiography,” Journal of Gospel Music (26 June 2015): JGM
Keith L. Alexander, “Millions of gospel fans know Richard Smallwood's music. But not his struggles,” Washington Post (23 July 2015): WP
Bob Marovich, “Genesis of a Gospel Song: ‘Total Praise’ by Richard Smallwood,” Journal of Gospel Music (15 Oct. 2015): JGM
Alex Lewis, “A Conversation with Richard Smallwood,” WXPN Gospel Roots (28 Nov. 2018): WXPN
Richard Smallwood, Total Praise: The Autobiography (Newark, NJ: Godzchild Publications, 2019): Amazon
Braxton D. Shelley, Healing for the Soul: Richard Smallwood, the Vamp, and the Gospel Imagination (Oxford: University Press, 2021): Amazon
Related Links:
Richard Smallwood, Hymnary.org: https://hymnary.org/person/Smallwood_R
Richard Smallwood, Discogs: Celestial Sound | Union Temple | Smallwood Singers | RS and Vision