By Rev. Dorothy S. BoulwareWord in Black
The sounds of Watch Night time providers in Black church buildings have lengthy begun or culminated with “Whole Reward” — one in every of many proofs of the musical genius of gospel music composer, singer, choir director and worshipper Richard Smallwood.
After worship leaders shook themselves from the information that Smallwood, 77, had died on Dec. 30, they altered and enhanced their worship plans to incorporate his music to assist finish 2025 and usher in 2026 in hybrid providers across the nation.
“Richard was so devoted to music, and that was the factor that stored him alive all these years,” Invoice Carpenter, Smallwood’s consultant, mentioned within the announcement of Smallwood’s passing. “Making music that made individuals really feel one thing is what made him wish to maintain respiratory and maintain shifting and maintain residing.”
A musical prodigy rooted within the church
Born Nov. 30, 1948, in Atlanta and raised in Washington, D.C., Smallwood confirmed musical promise early, taking part in piano by ear at age 5 and forming his first gospel group by 11. He graduated cum laude from Howard College with a level in music, the place he helped launch the college’s first gospel ensemble and gospel choir.
Smallwood had been one of many mainstays of gospel music since his faculty days at Howard College. The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III recalled that shift throughout Trinity United Church of Christ’s year-end service, noting how Smallwood’s presence completely altered the sound — and spirit — of Black worship when he and Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright started the revolution to incorporate gospel music with the standard hymns and anthems often sung in Rankin Chapel in these days.
Smallwood is moreover well-known for songs equivalent to “The Middle of My Pleasure,” “My Every part,” “His Mercy Endureth Eternally,” “Angels,” and “Bless the Lord.” His first album, “Richard Smallwood Singers” was launched in 1982.
His association of “I Love the Lord” was made much more well-known when sung by Whitney Houston in “The Preacher’s Spouse.” Like all his music, it stays a excessive level of worship in church buildings worldwide.
“You’ll be able to go into any sort of church — a Black church, a White church, a nondenominational church — and also you would possibly hear that track,” Carpenter mentioned of “Whole Reward.” He added, “Someway it discovered its footing all through the entire Christian world. If he by no means wrote the rest, that might have put him within the trendy hymn e book.”
Tributes from the music world
Singer and songwriter Chaka Khan paid tribute on social media, writing on Fb that Smallwood “opened up my entire world of gospel music.”
“His music didn’t simply encourage me, it remodeled me,” she wrote. “He’s my favourite pianist, and his brilliance, spirit, and devotion to the music have formed generations, together with my very own journey.
“His legacy will stay on by each word and each soul he touched,” Khan continued. “I’m really wanting ahead to singing with you in heaven.”
Gospel artist and composer Donald Lawrence known as Smallwood “a genius, a musical genius, a prodigy from a toddler up. He was very, very, very giving. Only a nice pal.”
Smallwood additionally ministered music at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Metropolitan’s pastor, Rev. George L. Parks Jr. mentioned, “He blessed us in so many distinct methods by simply sliding in on the piano, taking part in for our historic communion providers and in addition with our choir.” He added that Smallwood’s legacy would proceed to be felt worldwide.
That sentiment was echoed by the Nationwide Conference of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, based by Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey, which described Smallwood as “a gospel music big whose affect will probably be felt by generations to come back.”
This text was initially revealed by WordinBlack.com.
