UPDATE: Due to the University's response to COVID-19, this event has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.
WASHINGTON – The Howard University Department of Music, within the Division of Fine Arts, will host a book signing on Thursday, March 12, 2020, for Howard University alumnus and founding member of the Howard Gospel Choir Richard Smallwood’s recently released autobiography, “Total Praise.” The signing will be held in the Ira Aldridge Theatre, at 7 p.m. This event is free and open to all members of the Howard University community.
“It is an honor to host this book signing for Richard, a Howard son, who has spent his illustrious career glorifying the name of Jesus in song around the world,” says Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Howard University Department of Music Anthony Randolph, DMA.
Since childhood, the Atlanta, Georgia native has been driven. His father, former pastor of the historic Union Temple in Washington, D.C., was a tough taskmaster, and his mother encouraged his early love of music. The two extremes fueled his passion. He began to play piano by ear by the age of five. By seven, he was taking formal lessons and by eleven, had formed his own gospel group. In junior high school, future pop star Roberta Flack was one of his teachers and musical mentors. He later graduated from Howard University, cum laude, with a degree in music. He was very active on campus as a member of Howard’s first gospel group, the Celestials, and a founding member of the renowned Howard Gospel Choir. Along the way, he also developed lifelong relationships with fellow classmates such as Donny Hathaway, Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, who would all make names for themselves in show business.
After four decades as one of the most popular inspirational artists in the gospel music business, with classic tunes such as “Total Praise;” “Center of My Joy;” and “I Love the Lord” to his credit, Smallwood, a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and pianist, continues to enjoy widespread popularity and influence. His songs have been recorded by Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Kelly Price, Gerald Levert, American Idol’s Ruben Studdard, and a who’s who of the gospel world. Even the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, recorded a Richard Smallwood tune, “Faithful,” on her latest album.
Students, faculty and alumni of Howard University are encouraged to attend. A limited number of books will be available for purchase at the signing. To purchase online and pick up a copy ahead of the book signing, visit https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/total-praise-the-autobiography-of-richard-smallwood-richard-smallwood/1134862805. For more information on the signing, contact the Howard University Department of Music, at https://music.howard.edu/contact.
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ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 70 Fulbright Scholars. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.
Media contact: Ramzey Smith, Office of University Communications, Ramzey.smith@howard.edu
