QuintEssential Collection: Richard Smallwood

In 1982 Richard Smallwood began his recording career with the release of his debut album titled, The Richard Smallwood Singers, after 87 weeks on Billboard"™s Gospel chart. Smallwood felt it necessary to move on to his second album titled Psalms which received Grammy nods. His third release Textures, contained the classic, "The Center Of My Joy"� penned by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither. Smallwood continued to amass successive Grammy nominations with the following projects, Vision, Portrait, Testimony and Live at Howard University. Richard continued to climb to the pinnacle of success, receiving a Grammy Award and Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones"™ gospel project, Handel"™s Soulful Messiah. Richard"™s music has never been confined to anyone artistic genre. His song, "I, Love The Lord"� crossed onto the big screen when Whitney Houston sang it in the film, The Preacher"™s Wife. The same song was also used in the tune, "Dear God"� by R&B artists, Boyz II Men, on their CD titled, Evolution. His music has also been recorded by artists such as Destiny"™s Child, Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark-Sheard.