Honoring Richard Smallwood's legacy

In Spring 2024, the Interdisciplinary Program in Music and the Black Church celebrated the remarkable legacy of Richard Smallwood with a series of events, culminating in the "Anthem of Praise: A Salute to Richard Smallwood" at New Haven's College Street Music Hall. Inspired by Dr. Braxton Shelley’s groundbreaking book Healing for the Soul: Richard Smallwood, the Vamp, and the Gospel Imagination (2021), this celebration brought together acclaimed musicians—Tramaine Hawkins, John Holiday, Joseph Joubert, Karen Clark Sheard, The Walls Group, and BeBe Winans—scholars, and community members to explore Smallwood’s profound influence on gospel music and beyond. View the concert recording and photo highlights. 
 

Music and Mind: Braxton Shelley, Richard Smallwood, and Donald Lawrence in conversation

In an intimate and inspiring conversation in Yale Divinity School’s Marquand Chapel, Dr. Braxton Shelley, Richard Smallwood, and Donald Lawrence (pictured above) explored the intersections of music, spirituality, and mental health. Reflecting on Smallwood’s compositions—Healing, Glorify the Lord, and Total Praise—they shared insights into the creative process and the strong bond between music and the soul. Performances of Smallwood’s works by Yale students and distinguished artists such as Miles Wilson-Toliver M.Div. ’26, Nedelka Prescod M.Div. ’24, Brittany Stewart, and Dr. John Paul McGee, enhanced the event. Tributes from Dr. Ollie Watts Davis and Nelba Márquez-Greene added heartfelt resonance, emphasizing Smallwood’s lasting influence. Watch the full conversation here. 
 

Documenting gospel legends for Yale's Oral History of American Music

Gospel icons Tramaine Hawkins (pictured above), BeBe Winans, and Richard Smallwood contributed their voices to Yale’s esteemed Oral History of American Music (OHAM) archives through exclusive interviews with Dr. Ambre Dromgoole M.A.R. ’17, Ph.D. ’23. These conversations explore the personal and professional lives of these legends, providing valuable insights into the cultural and musical importance of gospel music. These interviews add to a collection of over 1,400 conversations with prominent American musicians and composers, now publicly available through OHAM’s “Major Figures in American Music Collection.” Learn more and access the OHAM link. 

Studio Lessons in Gospel Music

One way the MBC initiative is furthering its mission is by offering students the opportunity to participate in a church music skills course. Launched in Spring 2023, this program now offers applied lessons in gospel-style percussion, piano, and voice. This year’s faculty includes (from left to right) Dr. Darryl Jordan (voice), Tyson Jackson (percussion), and Dr. John Paul McGee (keyboards). The studio class includes students from across campus, offering a supportive yet rigorous environment for improving individual and group skills. Learn more about the faculty. 

Stay in Touch

Learn more by visiting our homepage and subscribing to our newsletter. Our next issue will feature highlights from Spring 2025, including a special Marquand Chapel Service with Rev. Dr. Peter Wherry and gospel artist, Pastor Lisa Page Brooks, as well as Why We Sing: A Masterclass with Kirk Franklin, where Dr. Shelley’s students shared original compositions and received real-time feedback from Kirk Franklin.

Thanks to all our partners over the last year: The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, Degraffenreidt Resource Fund and 320Y Fund, Department of African American Studies, Department of English, Department of Music, Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, Schwarzmann Center, Theater and Performance Studies, Whitney Humanities Center, Yale Divinity School, Yale School of Music, Yale University Chaplain's Office, Yale University Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Yale School of Art, Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of the Environment.