Gospel Artist Troy Sneed Succumbs to COVID-19
Gospel music fans and alum of Florida A&M University alike mourn the loss of Troy Sneed, gospel artist and Executive Director of Emtro Music Group. He is said to have died Monday from complications with the novel coronavirus. He was 52.
Just over a month before his untimely death, Sneed took to his social media and participated in Tyler Perry's "He's Got the Whole World" challenge.
Sneed had been in the gospel industry for over 20 years. The Associated Press reports that he arranged music on albums for the Georgia Mass Choir and appeared with the group in "The Preacher's Wife." He is also cited for his work on the Youth for Christ's "Higher" album in 1999 as well as "The Struggle is Over," which was No. 1 on Billboard's gospel songs chart in 2006. Source.
Sneed also saw success as a solo artist with his songs "Work It Out" and "My Heart Says Yes" both reaching No. 2 on Billboard's gospel chart. His song "Hallelujah" also received great reviews.
The label he and his wife started claimed artists such as Alvin Darling & Celebration and Rev. Rudolph McKissick to its roster. However, Sneed also had ties to Tuscaloosa.
He and his wife were great friends to L. Spenser and Patrice Smith, who both attended (and met at) FAMU. In fact, the project "Assignment No. 1" by L. Spenser Smith & Testament debuted on Emtro Gospel in 2004. Source.
Monday evening, Smith took to his Facebook page to express his feelings of losing his dear friend.
Sneed will definitely be missed by fans of his work in addition to those who knew and loved him, who are probably singing one of his hits in his honor, "The Struggle is Over."