Gospel Singer Troy Sneed Passed Away At Age 52
Grammy Award-nominated gospel singer Troy Sneed died Monday from complications of Covid-19 at a Jacksonville, Florida hospital.
Sneed, a Florida native played college football and also sang on the university’s gospel choir. He later went on to sing with the Georgia Mass Choir.
In 1999, he went solo and released many hits including Hallelujah, Call Jesus, Bless That Wonderful Name and many more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Troy Sneed, a Grammy Award-nominated gospel singer from the Jacksonville area whose career has spanned decades, has died from the coronavirus.
The 52-year-old singer died Monday morning at a Jacksonville hospital from complications of COVID-19, according to a news release.
Sneed was born in Perry, Florida, and played football at Florida A & M University, majoring in education and minoring in music.
During his time at FAMU, he was appointed minister of music for the choir. Sneed traveled around the United States with the choir as they performed with gospel luminaries such as James Moore, LaShun Pace, Dorothy Norwood and the Rev. James Cleveland.
Sneed went on to teach at Jacksonville Beach Elementary School until he was offered a position as the Georgia Mass Choir’s Assistant Minister of Music. Over the course of his decade-long tenure, Sneed traveled with the choir, arranged music on their albums and appeared with them in the Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston motion picture “The Preacher’s Wife” in 1996.
Youth for Christ’s 1999 album “Higher” earned Sneed a Grammy Award nomination in 2000. He released his debut solo gospel album, “Call Jesus,” in 1999. In 2003, he and his wife created their own recording label, Emtro, producing gospel radio hits such as the Rev. Rudolph McKissick’s “The Right Place” and Alvin Darling & Celebration’s “All Night.”
Sneed released his most recent album last fall. “All My Best” featured 12 of his greatest gospel radio hits.
Troy touched the lives of so many people. The memories of his talent will live on forever.
Our prayers are with the Sneed family and friends.
May he forever rest in peace.
