Celebrated as a classically trained composer and world-renowned musician, thousands flocked to First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Jan. 24 to honor the life and legacy of Richard Smallwood, the DMV’s own, eight time Grammy-nominated artist, who died on Dec. 30.
The church was filled with dignitaries, musicians and church leaders, such as Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), gospel great Kirk Franklin, actor Phylicia Rashad, and the Rev. Beecher Hicks, senior servant emeritus at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Largo, Maryland all remembering Smallwood as a humble genius with a mission of serving God’s people through music.
“This is a man who was one of God’s amazing vessels. He was one of God’s amazing instruments. A person who used his gift to remind each and every one of us of God’s love,” said Moore, who sang a snippet of Smallwood’s 1987 tune “Center of My Joy,” during his address. “He was the one who offered the soundtrack when we were having those moments… of praise and those moments of sorrow… He knew what words to give you. He knew the inspiration he was gonna lift you with.”
Throughout the service, which was officiated by Pastor George Lewis Parks of Metropolitan in Largo, Maryland, several people honored various aspects of Smallwoods’ life and career.
Born on November 30, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia, many of the speakers discussed Smallwood’s childhood– from growing up in D.C., to attending Howard University, and his ministry at both Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast, D.C., where his stepfather was a founding pastor, and Metropolitan.
“At Metropolitan, Reverend Smallwood did more than compose music. He shaped a ministry. He cultivated a sound that demanded discipline and devotion, intellect, and inspiration. He believed that the choir loft was holy ground, and that preparation itself was an act of reverence. Through him, we learned that excellence is not elitism,” Hicks said in a recorded video. “We give thanks for a servant whose scholarship served the sanctuary. We give thanks for a composer whose music carries theology.”
A Musical Change-Maker
The mourning congregation was moved to their feet, waving their hands and shouting in the aisles, as the composer’s group Vision, the Celebration Choir— consisting of voices from Metropolitan, Union and Howard Gospel Choir— and others chronicled the musician’s career with renditions of his beloved songs.
Rashad, who attended college with Smallwood, recalled a time when the then aspiring artist premiered the Howard Gospel Choir, which he founded in 1968, during a Sunday service.
“Hands were raised. The ladies were up on their feet, running up and down the aisles. We’d never seen anything like this. He had brought us together. He had brought the university, community, and the greater community of Washington, D.C., together, in praise. And that choir was tight, those harmonies were tight. They were breathing in rhythm together,” Rashad said. That’s a word that really we can attribute to him: together.
The Tony-winning performer remembered Smallwood, who she called “Sir Richard,” as both humble and magnificent.
“[Smallwood was] so easy, so natural, so calm, so everyday, so accessible, and yet so grand,” she said. “He took everything that he knew, and he knew a lot, and he rehearsed that choir. That discipline, it was undeniable.”
She also noted that Smallwood, a lover and master of classical music, helped Howard venture out from studying long-established, traditional music and explore more modern sounds, and highlighted her friend’s contributions overall.
“Sir Richard’s life and his life’s work are affirmation of the power of remembrance, worship, and praise,” Rashad reflected.
Two Psalmists, One God
Several faith leaders attested to Smallwood’s dedication to ministry through music during the Saturday service at First Baptist Church of Glenarden, where Bishop John K. Jenkins is pastor.
“Rev. Richard Smallwood understood that the song is not born of convenience,” Hicks said, “it is born of conviction.”
Pastor Maurice Watkins of Second Baptist Church delivered the eulogy, entitling it: “Two Psalmists, One God.”
While he referenced several of Smallwood’s songs in his message, he spoke on the artist pulling from Psalm 121 for his famous song “Total Praise,” recorded with his group Vision on the 1996 album “Adoration: Live in Atlanta.” He noted that the Psalm was written to empower people through long travels and highlighted that the celebrated song, and musician’s work in general, has uplifted many through good and hard times during his more than four-decade recording career.
“I listened to an interview that Richard did with Roland Martin. Allow me to paraphrase what Richard said to Roland about his music. He said that he wanted to write music that will be sung long after he’s gone. He wanted to write songs that will last through the ages, like ‘Precious Lord and ‘Amazing Grace,’” Watkins said. ”Well I believe that we can all agree that Richard certainly has achieved that lofty gold. One hundred years from now, people will still be singing his songs.”
The Second Baptist Church pastor ended his eulogy honoring the incredible composer and psalmist, pulling lyrics from songs such as “Total Praise” and “I Love the Lord,” written by Smallwood and sung by Whitney Houston in the 1996 film “The Preacher’s Wife.”
“One hundred years from now, they’ll still be saying, ‘I love the Lord. He heard my cry, and pitied every groan. Long as I live and trouble rise, I’ll hasten to his throne.’ One hundred years from now, they’ll still be singing, ‘Jesus, you’re the center of my joy. All that’s good and perfect comes from you. You are the source of my contentment. Hope for all I do. Jesus, you’re the center of my joy,’” Watkins said. “Trust me. They’ll still be singing, ‘Total Praise.’”
Joyce Garrett, retired director of music at Alfred Street Baptist Church, said that Smallwood’s sound “represented excellence.”
“His music was nothing that you could hear one time and then sing it,” Garrett told The Informer after the service, which started at about noon and ended just before 3 p.m. “I got to the church before 9:30 am and from the time the doors opened until a few minutes before the prelude began there were two hours of his musical excellence. He really was the master of the fusion of classical, sacred and Gospel music.”
Hamil Harris contributed to this story.