Biography

Richard Smallwood was born on November 30, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for The Preacher's Wife (1996), Praise This (2023) and Candy Cane Lane (2023). He died on December 30, 2025 in Sandy Spring, Maryland, USA.

Gospel singer.

Alumnus of Howard University.

Earned a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity in 2004 and was ordained at Metropolitan.

Began playing piano by ear at age five, started formal training at seven and formed his first gospel group by age 11.

Taught music privately and at institutions such as the Washington School of Music, the D.C. Public School System and the University of Maryland, College Park.