UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland (RNS) — Smallwood, an eight-time Grammy nominee, died on Dec. 30, at age 77 of complications from kidney failure.

Smallwood died at the age of 77 from complications of kidney failure on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

Richard Smallwood, a giant of gospel music, died on December 30. For decades, the composer and recording artist infused church hymns with a contemporary sound.

There are only a handful of people alive today who participated in the formation of modern gospel music in Chicago during the 1930s and 1940s. Fewer still worked directly with the genre’s founding ...

With free gospel music downloads, you can create an amazing gospel playlist, discover new artists, and rediscover some cherished favorites without spending a dime. There are plenty of websites ...

These are just some of the Black gospel artists shaping the genre with powerful voices and unwavering faith, from legends to rising stars. For generations, gospel music has been a vital source of ...