Richard Smallwood

Richard Smallwood (born 30 November 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American Gospel music artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, DC.

Biography
Richard graduated cum laude from Howard University with degrees in both vocal performance and piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of ethnomusicology. Smallwood was a member of The Celestials, the first gospel group on Howard University's campus. That group was the first gospel act to appear at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival. Richard was also a founding member of Howard's first gospel choir.

Smallwood's recording career began in 1982 with the album The Richard Smallwood Singers. The album spent 87 weeks on Billboard's Gospel chart. Its followup, Psalms was nominated for a Grammy. Two years later the album Textures was also nominated. Textures spawned the now-classic "Center Of My Joy" written by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither. He won his first Grammy, along with a Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones' gospel project Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.

His music has been recorded by artists such as Destiny's Child, Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard, and many more. He even accompanied opera legend Leontyne Price at a White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration. Richard, with his current group Vision, has recorded several successful projects for Verity records. He finished his Masters degree in Divinity from Howard University in 2004 and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Smallwood's next project was recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York. The concert features guests Kim Burrell on "Journey", Kelly Price on "Morning's Breaking," Chaka Khan on "Precious Is Your Name," as well as The Hawkins Family, Tramaine Hawkins, and the original roster of singers who comprised The Richard Smallwood Singers and Vision. Aretha Franklin and The Clark Sisters will contribute to additional studio tracks to appear on the album.

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)
Promises (Verity, 2011)

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)

--en.wikipedia.org