Gospel artist Troy Sneed. Photo courtesy Emtro Gospel.
The gospel music world mourns the loss of Emtro Gospel recording artist and label owner Troy Sneed. The Grammy nominated singer/songwriter/arranger passed away due to complications from COVID-19 in a Jacksonville, Florida hospital on Monday, April 27, according to his publicist Bill Carpenter. He was 52 years old.
The husband and father got his start in the gospel music industry as the Assistant Minister of Music for Savoy Records’ Georgia Mass Choir. He also appeared with the choir in the 1996 Penny Marshall directed hit film The Preacher’s Wife which starred Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston and Courtney B. Vance.
The music producer from Perry, Florida who attended Florida A&M University, uplifted the world with charting albums like “In Due Season,” “My Heart Says Yes,” and “Awesome God.” In 2000, Sneed received a Grammy nomination for the album he produced for Youth for Christ, Higher. He also had a 2006 hit song with Youth for Christ, “The Struggle Is Over” which landed in the number one position on the Billboard Chart. Other Top 10 singles by Sneed include, “Kept By Grace,” “My Heart Says Yes” and “Work It Out.”
Troy Sneed’s passing resulting from complications of COVID-19 is one of about 50,000 people to date who have succumbed to this dreaded pandemic, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Our thoughts and prayers are with Troy Sneed’s wife Emily Sneed, their children, family and friends, and countless others who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19.