{{Short description|American gospel singer, songwriter, and musician (1967–2020)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Troy Sneed | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Troy Lenard Sneed Jr. | birth_date = {{Birth date|1967|12|14|mf=y}} | birth_place = Perry, Florida | origin = Jacksonville, Florida | death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|4|27|1967|12|14}} | death_place = Jacksonville, Florida | instrument = vocals, singer-songwriter | genre = CCM, gospel, traditional black gospel, urban contemporary gospel, praise & worship | occupation = Singer, songwriter | years_active = 1999–2020 | label = Malaco, Savoy, Emtro Gospel | associated_acts = Georgia Mass Choir | website = }}
'''Troy Lenard Sneed Jr.''' (December 14, 1967 – April 27, 2020) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and musician.
==Early life== Sneed was born on December 14, 1967,<ref name="GE">{{cite book|title=Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia|first=Bil|last=Carpenter|year=2005|pages=382–3}}</ref> in Perry, Florida,<ref name="GE"/><ref name="BMI">{{cite web|title=Songwriter/Composer: SNEED TROY LENARD JR|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=BMI&cae=630679440&keyID=550182536&keyname=SNEED%20TROY%20LENARD%20JR&querytype=WriterID|publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc.|access-date=March 28, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and played football while in college at Florida A&M University. He had an injury on the field that put an end to his playing days.<ref name="GE"/> He would join the choir at the university, and after graduating he was a teacher at Jax Beach Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida.<ref name="GE"/> Milton Biggham, with Savoy Records, asked him to come lead the Georgia Mass Choir, in Atlanta, Georgia, as an assistant music minister.<ref name="GE"/>
==Music career== Sneed's music career began in 1999,<ref name="AM Bio">{{cite web|title=Troy Sneed : Biography |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/troy-sneed-mn0000015677/biography|first=Heather|last=Phares|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref> with the release of ''Call Jesus'' on March 23, 1999, by Malaco Records,<ref name="AM Disc">{{cite web|title=Troy Sneed : Discography |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/troy-sneed-mn0000015677/discography|author-link=AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref> but this album would not chart.<ref name="AM Awards">{{cite web|title=Troy Sneed : Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/troy-sneed-mn0000015677/awards|author=Billboard|author-link=Billboard (magazine)|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref> His subsequent album, ''Bless That Wonderful Name'', was released by Savoy Records in 2001,<ref name="AM Disc"/> yet this did not chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/> The third album was released by his own record label imprint Emtro Gospel on February 22, 2005, ''A State of Worship'',<ref name="AM Disc"/> and it was his breakthrough release on ''Billboard'' magazine Gospel Albums chart at No. 22.<ref name="AM Awards"/> He released, ''In His Presence'', on October 10, 2006, by his label,<ref name="AM Disc"/> which charted at No. 44 on the aforementioned chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/> His fifth album, ''In Due Season'', was released by his record label on August 25, 2009,<ref name="AM Awards"/> however it was not successfully charted.<ref name="AM Awards"/> The subsequent album, ''My Heart Says Yes'', released on May 10, 2011, by Emtro Gospel,<ref name="AM Disc"/> and this one would peak at No. 5 on the Gospel Albums chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/> He released his seventh album on August 7, 2012, ''All Is Well'',<ref name="AM Disc"/> and this charted at No. 9 on the aforementioned chart.<ref name="AM Awards"/>
==Personal life== Sneed married Emily Frances Ianson on July 2, 1993, and together they resided in Jacksonville, Florida, with their children.<ref name="GE"/>
==Death== Sneed died of complications from COVID-19 on April 27, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/04/troy-sneed-dead/|title=Troy Sneed Dead: Gospel Icon Dies at 52 After Coronavirus Battle|last=Farrell|first=Paul|date=April 2, 2020|website=Heavy.com|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions<ref name="AM Awards"/> |- !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Gos |- !scope="row"|''Call Jesus'' | * Released: May 23, 1999 * {{nowrap|Label: Malaco}} * CD, digital download | – |- !scope="row"|''Bless That Wonderful Name!'' | * Released: 2001 * {{nowrap|Label: Savoy}} * CD, digital download | – |- !scope="row"|''A State of Worship'' | * Released: February 22, 2005 * {{nowrap|Label: Emtro Gospel}} * CD, digital download | 22 |- !scope="row"|''In His Presence'' | * Released: October 10, 2006 * {{nowrap|Label: Emtro Gospel}} * CD, digital download | 44 |- !scope="row"|''In Due Season'' | * Released: August 25, 2009 * {{nowrap|Label: Emtro Gospel}} * CD, digital download | – |- !scope="row"|''My Heart Says Yes'' | * Released: May 10, 2011 * {{nowrap|Label: Emtro Gospel}} * CD, digital download | 5 |- !scope="row"|''All Is Well'' | * Released: August 7, 2012 * {{nowrap|Label: Emtro Gospel}} * CD, digital download | - |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sneed, Troy}} Category:1967 births Category:2020 deaths Category:African-American male songwriters Category:African-American Christians Category:Musicians from Atlanta Category:Musicians from Jacksonville, Florida Category:Songwriters from Florida Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:People from Perry, Florida Category:Players of American football from Florida Category:Florida A&M Rattlers football players Category:Singers from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Singers from Florida Category:20th-century African-American male singers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida Category:21st-century African-American male singers Category:21st-century American male singers