Biography
Richard Smallwood has become one of the most influential and popular inspirational artists in gospel. Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1948, he is the founder of the Richard Smallwood Singers. Perhaps best known for songs like "Total Praise" and "I Love the Lord," Smallwood's songs have been recorded by such artists as Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, Destiny's Child, Aretha Franklin, and Ruben Studdard. Smallwood won his first Grammy Award (for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album) for his production of the 1992 album "Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration"; the album would also win a Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year (1992).
In 1995, Smallwood formed the group Vision. According to Smallwood, he was directed by God to move in a new direction, away from the small ensemble that was the Richard Smallwood Singers. Smallwood formed the group when he signed with Verity Records in 1995; according to Smallwood, the members were all people "God laid on [his] heart." Together, Smallwood and Vision recorded several projects with Verity, including "Adoration: Live in Atlanta" (1996), "Rejoice" (1997), "Journey: Live in New York" (2007), and "Promises" (2011).
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Smallwood references a variety of musicians and genres as musical influences, including: Roberta Flack, The Imperial Gospel Singers, Rev. James Cleveland, Bishop Walter Hawkins, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Stevie Wonder, and Johann Sebastian Bach.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.