Celebrating Richard Smallwood
Richard Smallwood is a composer, pianist, and worship leader whose music has shaped modern gospel and church worship for decades.
He was raised in Washington, D.C., and studied music formally at Howard University and later at the Conservatory of Music at the University of the District of Columbia. Classically trained, Smallwood brought orchestral arrangements, complex harmonies, and choral structure into contemporary gospel music, helping expand what church music could sound like.
In the late 1970s, he formed the ensemble Vision, which became the platform for many of his most well-known compositions. Songs like “Total Praise” and “Center of My Joy” moved beyond performance settings and became part of regular worship in churches across denominations. His music has been sung in moments of celebration, grief, and public remembrance, including national memorial services.
Smallwood has spoken openly about navigating personal struggles alongside public success, and about the role faith and worship played in sustaining him over a long career. His work has earned multiple awards and recognition within gospel and Christian music communities.
Richard Smallwood’s impact is measured less by charts and more by longevity. His compositions continue to be sung by choirs and congregations, carrying forward a musical tradition that blends technical excellence with spiritual expression.
Join us this month, on-air and online, during Black History Month on BRIGHT-FM as we journey through history.
Imagine Source: Derek Blanks Photography.
