Andrae Crouch

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Andraé Edward Crouch (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015) was an American gospel singer, composer, arranger, and pastor.

Contemporary Christian and gospel music professionals' referenced him as "the father of modern gospel music"; "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)" and "Soon and Very Soon" are two of Crouch's compositions.

Many recording artists, including Bob Dylan, Barbara Mandrell, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard, collaborated on some of his songs with musicians, such as Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, Chaka Khan, Sheila E., and vocal group Take 6, and many recording artists covered his works, including: Bob Dylan, Barbara Mandrell, Paul Simon, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard.

He was known as the "go-god" producer for superstars who needed a gospel choir sound in their recordings in the 1980s and 1990s, appearing on a number of albums, including Michael Jackson's "Man In the Mirror," Madonna's "Like a Prayer," and "The Power," a duet between Elton John and Little Richard.

Crouch was recognized for his ability to weave contemporary secular music styles into the gospel music he grew up with.

Crouch's original music arrangements were seen in the films The Color Purple, for which he received an Oscar nomination, and Disney's The Lion King, as well as the NBC television series Amen, which helped spark early American contemporary Christian music in the 1960s and 1970s.

He has received seven Grammy Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame in honor of his lifetime.

Early years

Andraé Edward Crouch and his twin sister Sandra were born in San Francisco, California, to parents Benjamin and Catherine (née Hodnett) Crouch. His father was a minister in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and pastored Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ in Pacoima, California. As he was young, Crouch's parents owned and operated Crouch Cleaners, a dry-cleaning business, as well as a a restaurant in Los Angeles, California. In addition to managing the family's businesses, Crouch's parents also had a Christian street-preaching ministry and a hospital and prison ministry. When Crouch was 11, his father was invited to speak for many weeks as a guest preacher at a small church. The young boy was encouraged to participate in the services by Crouch's father and the congregation. Crouch found the missing key in which the congregation was singing and playing was located at the piano. Crouch's piano-playing skills were sharpened and he wanted to write his own songs after this. He recorded his first Gospel song when he was 14 years old.

Personal life

After being stopped for erratic driving, Crouch was arrested in Los Angeles on November 12, 1982, for possession of cocaine. A substance was discovered in the vehicle by a sheriff's deputies that Crouch said was instant chicken soup powder. He was discovered to have a vial of cocaine in his pocket after consenting to a search. Crouch was arrested and released on $2,500 bail later the same day, arguing that the drugs belonged to a friend who had been staying in his house. A charge of pressuring has been dismissed by the police department.

Crouch's father, mother, and younger brother all suffered from 1993 to 1994. Crouch and his siblings took over the shared ministry of senior pastor at the church he founded in Pacoima, California, after his father's death.

Crouch had several personal attacks from four distinct forms of cancer, which claimed the lives of his mother, father, and brother in 1993 and 1994. In his last two years of life, he had been hospitalized for diabetes problems. Crouch was hospitalized with pneumonia and congestive heart disease in early December 2014. As a result, his December 2014 tour was postponed. He was hospitalized in Los Angeles on January 3, 2015, as a result of a heart attack.

Crouch died at Northridge Hospital Medical Center on January 8, 2015. He was 72 years old when he died. "My twin brother, womb-mate, and best friend all went home to be with the Lord on the same day." Please keep me, my family, and our church family in your prayers. I tried to keep him here but God loved him more.

Michael W. Smith, a Christian recording artist, told Billboard Magazine, "I'll never forget hearing Andraé for the first time." For me, it was like someone had opened a whole new world of possibilities. Andraé Crouch is the person who inspired me more as a teenager. His impact on Christian music is incalculable. We all owe him so much and I'll always be grateful for the days we shared together."

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Career

The Church of God in Christ Singers was Crouch's first group musical effort, which was formed in 1960. Billy Preston, a future recording artist and session musician, was the first to record Crouch's "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power." Following the initial 1969 release, the song's success soared, becoming a hit in churches and hymnals around the world. While attending Valley Junior College in the San Fernando Valley to become a teacher, he formed the Disciples, a gospel music group founded in 1965 with fellow musicians Perry Morgan, Reuben Fernandez, and Bili Thedford. The group became a regular attraction at "Monday Night Sing" concerts in southern California put on by Audrey Mieir, a Christian minister and song composer who regularly supported new Christian bands. Manna released Crouch's song "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," following Mieir's introduction of Crouch to Manna Music Publishing's founders Tim and Hal Spencer, who were 15 years old. The Spencers helped launch Crouch's recording career by introducing them to Light Records founder and prolific Christian songwriter Ralph Carmichael. Light Records recorded and released Sherman Andrus's debut on The Disciples in 1968, shortly after the group's first album, Taking the Message Everywhere. Sandra, Crouch's twin sister, joined The Disciples in 1970 after Fernandez's departure. Keep On Singin' and Soulfully until the group's lineup was overhauled in 1972.

Sherman Andrus was sent by singer Danniebelle Hall when he left the Disciples to join the Imperials. By the 1970s, more musicians were being recruited, and the band's membership included Fletch Wiley on trumpet, Harlan Rogers on keyboards, Hadley Hockensmith on bass, and Bill Maxwell on drums. Johnny Carson appeared on The Tonight Show in 1972 and 1979 at Carnegie Hall, selling out audiences. "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Energy," "Bless His Holy Name," "Soon and Very Soon," "Jesus is the Answer," and "My Tribute" were among Crouch's most popular songs.

Crouch continued as a solo performer after The Disciples disbanded in 1979. Howard Smith, Linda McCrary, Táta Vega, and Kristle Murden, as well as The Andraé Crouch Singers, were among his backing band members. In Crouch's recording sessions, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Dean Parks, David Paich, Phillip Bailey, Phillip Bailey, Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, and other secular performers were included. Bill Maxwell, a former Disciples drummer-turned-producer, co-produced projects for The Winans, Danniebelle Hall, and Kristle Murden. Many musical acts and solo performers covered Elvis Presley's most well-known works, including Elvis Presley's "I've Got Confidence." Vanessa Bell Armstrong sung by Crouch in 1986 the Sherman Hemsley sitcom Amen's theme tune.

Lauren Evans, Crystal Lewis, Karen Clark Sheard, Táta Vega, and Marvin Winans appeared on Mighty Wind, a 40th anniversary album containing guest appearances by Lauren Evans, Crystal Lewis, Karen Clark Sheard, Táta Vega, and Marvin Winans.

On February 7, 1982, a Crouch guest appeared in "Man Of The Cloth" on The Jeffersons' Season 8.

Crouch has been credited as a central figure in Jesus music of the 1960s and 1970s, and as a result, has been instrumental in the introduction of modern Christian music into the church. He is also credited with helping bridge the black and white Christian music genres and inventing the sound of urban gospel music. Although being chastised for diluting the Christian message by using modern music styles, his songs have become staples in churches and hymnals around the world, and Elvis Presley and Paul Simon have been featured in mainstream musicians such as Elvis Presley and Paul Simon.

Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, Jessy Dixon, and The Winans were among the company's first-time gospel musicians, and he was instrumental in their success.

On the Grammy Award-winning CD, Tribute to Andraé Crouch, released by Warner Bros. Records in 1996, Crouch and his music were lauded. The collection featured a variety of artists as well as the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Twila Paris, and Michael W. Smith.

Sandra Crouch and his sister Sandra had a close friendship and music with Michael Jackson. On Jackson's hit single "Man in the Mirror" from the Bad album in 1987, the Andraé Crouch Choir performed background vocals with Siedah Garrett and The Winans. The Andraé Crouch Singers were also featured on Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album's "Keep the Faith" and "Will You Be There." The Andraé Crouch Choir of Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I project, 1995. They were also on "Morphine" from HIStory's remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: Blood in the Mix, and one last time on "Speechless" from the Invincible album. The Andraé Crouch Choir performed "Soon and Very Soon" at Jackson's public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009.

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