Andraé Crouch (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. Referred to as “the father of modern gospel music” by contemporary Christian and gospel music professionals, Crouch was known for his compositions “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”, “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)”, and “Soon and Very Soon”. In secular music, he was known for his collaborative work during the 1980s and 1990s with Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Quincy Jones, as well as conducting choirs that sang on the Michael Jackson hit “Man in the Mirror” and Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”. Crouch’s original music arrangements were heard in the films The Color Purple and Disney’s The Lion King, as well as the NBC television series Amen. Awards and honors received by him include seven Grammy Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (More from Wikipedia)
Among African-Americans, Wikipedia notes Andraé Crouch as a founding presence in CCM. Crouch’s beginnings in music are related in Wikipedia this way: “His father, Benjamin Crouch, also had a street ministry and ministered in hospitals and in prison. When [Andraé] Crouch was 11, his father was invited to preach at a small church in a farming community. The church didn’t have a regular pastor so the bishop asked Benjamin to fill the post. The first Sunday, Benjamin asked his son to come up front and asked, ‘Andraé, if God gave you the gift of music to play and sing for Him, would you do it for His glory all your life?’ Crouch said, ‘Yeah, Daddy.’ Weeks later, Benjamin summoned his son again as the congregation sang, with: ‘If you’re gonna play, play.’ Crouch found the key and started to play the piano. He soon began to write songs and lead a choir.”
Andraé Crouch was first a member of the Church of God in Christ Singers (COGICS), which he founded in 1960; one of their members was Billy Preston. Crouch formed a group called the Disciples in 1965, and they released their first album in 1968, Take the Message Everywhere. Crouch helped revitalize black gospel music and directly brought several successful gospel singers to the label where he recorded, Light Records, including BeBe and CeCe Winans.
Andraé Crouch and the Los Angeles Church of God choir that he directed were prominently featured in the title song, “Like a Prayer” on Madonna’s Christian-themed album, Like a Prayer (1989). He also performed in the Michael Jackson song “Man in the Mirror” (1987).
(July 2014)
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